1986 Portuguese presidential election
26 January 1986 (first round)
16 February 1986 (second round) | ||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 75.39% (first round) 9.00pp 77.99% (second round) | |||||||||||||||
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Presidential elections were held in Portugal on 26 January 1986, with a second round on 16 February.
This was closest presidential election ever held in Portugal and was won by the Socialist Mário Soares, who initially had no more than 8 percent in opinion polls.[1]
The first round was easily won by Freitas do Amaral, supported by all the right-wing parties. Soares advanced to the second round by beating the other two left-wing candidates: the former Prime-Minister Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, the first woman to be a candidate for the Portuguese presidency, and Salgado Zenha (supported by outgoing president António Ramalho Eanes, founder of the short-lived Democratic Renewal Party, and by the Portuguese Communist Party, whose candidate, Ângelo Veloso, left the race some days before the poll[2]). Both these candidates supported Soares in the second round.
In the first round, Soares did not achieve the majority of the votes in any district, as the left-wing strongholds in the south of Portugal voted for Zenha due to his support from the Communist Party.
As results for the second round were counted, the urban vote, traditionally more left-wing, overcame the early lead of Freitas do Amaral by fewer than 140,000 votes, and Soares was sworn in as President on 9 March 1986, the first civilian to hold the post (not counting caretakers) in 60 years.[3]
For 40 years this would be the only time a direct Portuguese presidential election was decided in a runoff, until 2026.[4]
Electoral system
Any Portuguese citizen over 35 years old has the opportunity to run for president. In order to do so it is necessary to gather between 7,500 and 15,000 signatures and submit them to the Portuguese Constitutional Court.
According to the Portuguese Constitution, a candidate needs a majority of votes to become elected. If no candidate gets this majority a second round will take place between the two most voted candidates.
Candidates
Official candidates
Advanced to runoff
| Candidate | Party support | Political office(s) | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mário Soares (61) | Prime Minister (1976–1978; 1983–1985) Secretary-general of the Socialist Party (1973–1985) Minister without portfolio (1975) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1974–1975) Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–1986) |
Socialist Party (PS) founder; lawyer. | ||
| Diogo Freitas do Amaral (44) | Deputy Prime Minister (1980–1981; 1981–1983) Minister of National Defence (1981–1983) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1980–1981) President of the Democratic and Social Center (1974–1983) Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–1983) |
Democratic and Social Center (CDS) founder; university professor. | ||
Eliminated in first round
| Candidate | Party support | Political office(s) | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Salgado Zenha (62) | Minister of Finance (1975–1976) Minister of Justice (1974–1975) President of the Socialist Party's parliamentary group (1976–1983) Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–1983) |
Independent, former Socialist Party (PS) founding member; lawyer; endorsed by President António Ramalho Eanes. | ||
| Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo (56) | Prime Minister (1979–1980) Minister of Social Affairs (1974–1975) Secretary of State for Social Security (1974) Member of the Corporative Chamber (1969–1974) |
Independent; engineer. | ||
Withdrew candidacy
- Ângelo Veloso – incumbent Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–1990); supported by the Portuguese Communist Party, left the race to support Salgado Zenha;
- Manuel da Costa Braz – former Minister of Home Affairs (1974–1975; 1976–1978; 1979–1980); former Ombudsman (1975–1976).[5]
Unsuccessful candidacies
There were also three candidates rejected by the Portuguese Constitutional Court for not complying with the legal requirements:
- Carmelinda Pereira – former Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–1979); supported by the Workers' Party of Socialist Unity;
- Luís Carlos Franco;
- Álvaro Manuel Nunes.
Declined
- Mário Firmino Miguel – general officer, former Defense Minister in 1974 and between 1976 and 1978;[6]
- Daniel Proença de Carvalho – lawyer, former Minister of Social Communication between 1978 and 1979, RTP Chairman between 1980 and 1982. Later became campaign manager for Diogo Freitas do Amaral.[6][7]
Campaign period
Issues
The 1986 presidential campaign was one of the most polarizing in Portugal's democratic history.[8] The center-right/right-wing presented a unified candidate, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, while the center-left/left-wing was divided between three candidates: Soares, Salgado Zenha and Pintasilgo.[9] Soares' unpopularity during his term as prime minister, between 1983 and 1985, when several austerity policies were inacted because of the IMF bailout leading to one of the worst social crises in Portuguese democracy,[10] plus the long feud between Soares and the Portuguese Communist Party, created a deep divide on the left.[11] Soares' candidacy was further damaged by divisions within the Socialist Party, with his longtime friend and party ally Francisco Salgado Zenha announcing his candidacy with the support of outgoing president António Ramalho Eanes, and later also with the support from the Communists.[12] The tensions on the left side of the political spectrum reached a breaking point on 15 January 1986, when Soares was violently assaulted by Communist supporters in Marinha Grande, a moment that was seen as a turning point in favour of Soares.[13]
On the first round, held on 26 January, Freitas and Soares advanced to a runoff.[14] Soares' passage to the runoff created a dilemma for the Communist Party, taking into account the acrimonious relationship between both.[15] Despite this background, the Communists decided to support Soares in the runoff, with party leader Álvaro Cunhal saying "if necessary, cover [Soares'] face on the ballot with one hand and vote with the other".[15] Freitas' campaign used this support from the PCP to attack Soares, accusing him of contradicting himself by accepting the support of the Communists,[2] while Soares accused Freitas of lack of political awareness before the 25 April 1974 revolution, pointing that Freitas "showed solidarity through silence" for the Estado Novo regime.[2]
Party slogans
| Candidate | Original slogan | English translation | Refs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mário Soares | « O voto do Povo » « Soares é fixe » |
"The vote of the People" "Soares is cool" |
[16] | |
| Diogo Freitas do Amaral | « Está na hora! » « Prá Frente Portugal! » |
"It's time!" "Go Forward Portugal!" |
[17] | |
| Francisco Salgado Zenha | « Justiça e tolerância, confiança no futuro » | "Justice and tolerance, confidence in the future" | [18] | |
| Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo | « A coragem da decisão » | "The courage of the decision" | [19] | |
Candidates' debates
First round
| 1986 Portuguese presidential election debates | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Organisers | Moderator(s) | P Present A Absent invitee N Non-invitee | |||||||||||||||||
| Soares | Freitas | Zenha | Pintasilgo | Refs | ||||||||||||||||
| 17 Dec 1985 | RTP1 | Margarida Marante | N | P | P | N | [20] | |||||||||||||
| 19 Dec 1985 | RTP1 | Miguel Sousa Tavares | P | N | N | P | [21] | |||||||||||||
| 26 Dec 1985 | RTP1 | Miguel Sousa Tavares | N | P | N | P | [22] | |||||||||||||
| 2 Jan 1986 | RTP1 | Miguel Sousa Tavares | P | N | P | N | [23] | |||||||||||||
| 7 Jan 1986 | RTP1 | Margarida Marante | N | N | P | P | [24] | |||||||||||||
| 9 Jan 1986 | RTP1 | Miguel Sousa Tavares | P | P | N | N | [25] | |||||||||||||
Second round
| 1986 Portuguese presidential election debates | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Organisers | Moderator(s) | P Present A Absent invitee N Non-invitee | |||||||||||||||||
| Soares | Freitas | Refs | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Feb 1986 | RTP1 | Margarida Marante Miguel Sousa Tavares |
P | P | [26] | |||||||||||||||
Endorsements
| First-round candidate | First round | Endorsement | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Salgado Zenha | 20.88% | Mário Soares[27] | ||
| Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo | 7.38% | Against Freitas do Amaral[a][28] | ||
Party endorsements in the second round
| Candidate | Parties | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diogo Freitas do Amaral | CDS | [15] | ||
| PSD | [15] | |||
| Mário Soares | PS | [15] | ||
| PCP | [15] | |||
| MDP/CDE | [29] | |||
| PRD | [30] | |||
Opinion polls
First round
Exit poll
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
Oth | Lead | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDS | PS | Ind. | Ind. | |||||
| Election results | 26 Jan 1986 | N/a | 46.3 | 25.4 | 20.9 | 7.4 | —
|
20.9 |
| Ministry of Justice[2] | 26 Jan 1986 | N/a | 46.8 | 25.1 | 21.1 | 7.0 | —
|
21.7 |
| RTP | 26 Jan 1986 | N/a | 43–46 | 24–27 | 18–21 | 9–12 | —
|
19 |
| Norma | 30 Dec 1985–5 Jan 1986 | 800 | 41.8 | 21.8 | 14.1 | 18.3 | 4.0[31] | 20.0 |
| ZAP | 28–29 Dec 1985 | 830 | 42.3 | 17.7 | 23.3 | 16.7 | N/a | 19.0 |
| Euroexpansão | 27 Dec 1985–5 Jan 1986 | 2,237 | 42.5 | 21.5 | 15.0 | 21.0 | N/a | 21.0 |
| Norma | 19–23 Dec 1985 | 607 | 31.2 | 12.1 | 10.8 | 22.4 | 23.2 | 8.8 |
| Norma | 23 Nov 1985 | ? | 38.7 | 8.3 | 16.3 | 22.8 | 13.9 | 15.9 |
| Marktest | 26–27 Oct 1985 | 430 | 29 | 17 | N/a | 24 | 30[32] | 5 |
| Norma | 9–17 Oct 1985 | 604 | 22.8 | 19.6 | N/a | 35.7 | 21.9[33] | 12.9 |
| Norma | 10–16 May 1985 | 598 | 33.4 | 12.9 | N/a | 24.1 | 29.7 | 9.3 |
| Norma | Apr 1985 | ? | N/a | 13.6 | N/a | 25.5 | 60.9[34] | 11.9 |
| N/a | 13.8 | N/a | 25.4 | 60.8[35] | 11.6 | |||
| Marktest | 1–6 Feb 1985 | ? | 11 | 8 | N/a | 27 | 54 | 16 |
| Norma | 14–21 Jan 1985 | ? | N/a | 11.1 | 1.7 | 25.0 | 62.6[36] | 11.1 |
| N/a | 9.9 | 3.7 | 26.4 | 60.0[37] | 13.2 | |||
| Norma | 13–21 Dec 1984 | ? | N/a | 16.5 | N/a | 26.8 | 56.7[38] | 10.3 |
| N/a | 17.2 | N/a | 25.7 | 57.0[39] | 8.5 | |||
| Marktest | 9–12 Nov 1984 | ? | N/a | 13.0 | N/a | 23.6 | 63.4 | 10.6 |
| Norma | Nov 1984 | ? | N/a | 12.4 | N/a | 22.5 | 65.1[40] | 7.3 |
| N/a | 12.0 | N/a | 22.5 | 65.5[41] | 10.5 | |||
| Euroexpansão | 19–25 Oct 1984 | 816 | 9.4 | 14.6 | 2.6 | 21.5 | 51.9[42] | 6.9 |
| Norma | 4–15 Oct 1984 | ? | N/a | 14.4 | N/a | 15.4 | 70.2[43] | 1.0 |
| Marktest | Oct 1984 | ? | 12 | 13 | 1 | 21 | 53[44] | 8 |
| Marktest | Sep 1984 | ? | 10 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 55[45] | 7 |
| Norma | 27 Aug–3 Sep 1984 | 605 | N/a | 8.2 | N/a | 18.0 | 73.8[46] | 9.8 |
| Marktest | Aug 1984 | ? | 11 | 11 | 3 | 19 | 56[47] | 8 |
| Norma | Jul 1984 | ? | N/a | 10.3 | N/a | 22.3 | 67.4[48] | 12.0 |
| Marktest | Jul 1984 | ? | 13 | 12 | 3 | 23 | 49[49] | 10 |
| Norma | Jun 1984 | ? | N/a | 12.4 | N/a | 22.0 | 65.6[50] | 9.6 |
| Marktest | 8–15 Jun 1984 | ? | 13 | 11 | 2 | 24 | 50[51] | 11 |
| Norma | May 1984 | ? | N/a | 13.8 | N/a | 26.2 | 60.0[52] | 12.4 |
| Marktest | Mar 1984 | ? | 12 | 10 | N/a | 20 | 42 | 8 |
| Marktest | 4–7 Feb 1984 | ? | 10.5 | 12.8 | N/a | 16.9 | 59.8 | 4.1 |
| Damião de Gois | Dec 1983–Feb 1984 | ? | 13.8 | 12.6 | N/a | 22.2 | 51.4 | 8.4 |
| Marktest | Jan 1984 | ? | 10.5 | 12.8 | N/a | 16.9 | 59.8 | 4.1 |
Second round
Exit poll
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
Freitas | Soares | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDS | PS | ||||
| Election results | 16 Feb 1986 | N/a | 48.8 | 51.2 | 2.4 |
| Ministry of Justice | 16 Feb 1986 | N/a | 48.7 | 51.3 | 2.6 |
| RTP | 16 Feb 1986 | N/a | 48–50 | 50–52 | 2 |
| Norma | 1 Feb 1986 | ? | 52.6 | 47.4 | 5.2 |
| ZAP | 28–29 Dec 1985 | 830 | 60.3 | 39.7 | 20.6 |
| Euroexpansão | 27 Dec 1985–5 Jan 1986 | 2,237 | 58.8 | 41.2 | 17.6 |
| Norma[b] | 19–23 Dec 1985 | 607 | 58.7 | 41.3 | 17.4 |
| Norma[c] | 10–16 May 1985 | 598 | 66.7 | 33.3 | 33.4 |
| Norma[d] | Apr 1985 | ? | 50.9 | 49.1 | 1.8 |
| Polling firm | Date conducted | Sample size |
Firmino Miguel
|
Oth/ Und |
Lead | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | CDS | Ind. | Ind. | PSD | Ind. | CDS | |||||
| ZAP | 28–29 Dec 1985 | 830 | N/a | 54.4 | 45.6 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 8.8 |
| N/a | 55.1 | N/a | 44.9 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 10.2 | |||
| Euroexpansão | 27 Dec 1985–5 Jan 1986 | 2,237 | 57.8 | N/a | 42.2 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 15.6 |
| 52.7 | N/a | N/a | 47.3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 5.4 | |||
| N/a | 59.9 | 40.1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 19.8 | |||
| N/a | 52.7 | N/a | 47.3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 5.4 | |||
| N/a | N/a | 44.3 | 55.7 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 11.4 | |||
| Norma | 19–23 Dec 1985 | 607 | 31.7 | N/a | 28.8 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 39.5 | 2.9 |
| 30.2 | N/a | N/a | 38.3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 31.5 | 8.1 | |||
| N/a | 44.1 | 30.2 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 25.7 | 13.9 | |||
| N/a | 40.4 | N/a | 39.4 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 20.2 | 1.0 | |||
| N/a | N/a | 18.4 | 37.5 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 44.1 | 19.1 | |||
| Marktest | 26–27 Oct 1985 | 430 | N/a | 35 | N/a | 39 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 26 | 4 |
| Norma | 9–17 Oct 1985 | 604 | 26.7 | N/a | N/a | 44.3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 29.0 | 17.6 |
| N/a | 27.1 | N/a | 48.6 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 24.3 | 21.5 | |||
| Norma | 10–16 May 1985 | 598 | 31.6 | N/a | N/a | 31.7 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 36.7 | 0.1 |
| N/a | 41.2 | N/a | 33.6 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 25.2 | 7.6 | |||
| Norma | Apr 1985 | ? | 21.1 | N/a | N/a | 31.0 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 47.9 | 9.9 |
| 23.2 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 23.6 | N/a | N/a | 53.2 | 0.4 | |||
| 21.2 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 17.8 | N/a | 61.0 | 3.4 | |||
| Euroexpansão | 19–25 Oct 1984 | 816 | 34.0 | N/a | 23.6 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 42.4 | 10.4 |
| 27.9 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 31.8 | 40.3 | 3.9 | |||
| Marktest | 8–15 Jun 1984 | ? | N/a | 35 | N/a | 43 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 22 | 8 |
| Marktest | Mar 1984 | ? | N/a | 24 | N/a | 45 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 31 | 21 |
Results
National summary
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Diogo Freitas do Amaral | Democratic Social Center[e] | 2,629,597 | 46.31 | 2,872,064 | 48.82 | |
| Mário Soares | Socialist Party | 1,443,683 | 25.43 | 3,010,756 | 51.18 | |
| Francisco Salgado Zenha | Independent[f] | 1,185,867 | 20.88 | |||
| Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo | Independent[g] | 418,961 | 7.38 | |||
| Total | 5,678,108 | 100.00 | 5,882,820 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 5,678,108 | 98.87 | 5,882,820 | 99.09 | ||
| Invalid votes | 18,292 | 0.32 | 20,436 | 0.34 | ||
| Blank votes | 46,334 | 0.81 | 33,844 | 0.57 | ||
| Total votes | 5,742,734 | 100.00 | 5,937,100 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 7,617,257 | 75.39 | 7,612,633 | 77.99 | ||
| Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições, First round[53] Second round[54] | ||||||
Results by district
First round
| District | Freitas | Soares | Zenha | Pintasilgo | Turnout | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Aveiro | 200,008 | 57.00% | 102,684 | 29.26% | 30,868 | 8.80% | 17,345 | 4.94% | 76.06% | |
| Azores | 61,274 | 58.57% | 32,841 | 26.23% | 8,235 | 6.94% | 4,586 | 3.87% | 61.50% | |
| Beja | 22,648 | 21.30% | 19,347 | 18.19% | 58,233 | 54.76% | 6,117 | 5.75% | 71.58% | |
| Braga | 206,747 | 52.74% | 112,263 | 28.64% | 52,751 | 13.46% | 20,218 | 5.16% | 78.95% | |
| Bragança | 60,868 | 66.02% | 22,972 | 24.92% | 6,125 | 6.64% | 2,234 | 2.42% | 66.29% | |
| Castelo Branco | 72,295 | 53.00% | 31,812 | 23.32% | 24,671 | 18.09% | 7,638 | 5.60% | 72.77% | |
| Coimbra | 113,913 | 46.12% | 78,894 | 32.23% | 33,429 | 13.66% | 19,570 | 7.99% | 71.39% | |
| Évora | 31,613 | 27.71% | 15,734 | 13.79% | 60,061 | 52.65% | 6,665 | 5.84% | 78.88% | |
| Faro | 77,570 | 40.57% | 51,410 | 26.89% | 48,564 | 25.40% | 13.644 | 7.14% | 73.25% | |
| Guarda | 71,902 | 62.94% | 29,625 | 25.93% | 9,007 | 7.88% | 3,704 | 3.24% | 69.85% | |
| Leiria | 145,554 | 60.26% | 55,653 | 23.04% | 26,816 | 11.10% | 13,525 | 5.60% | 74.48% | |
| Lisbon | 512,158 | 39.91% | 296,395 | 23.09% | 338,470 | 26.37% | 136,397 | 10.63% | 78.45% | |
| Madeira | 74,688 | 62.96% | 31,123 | 26.23% | 8,235 | 6.94% | 4,586 | 3.87% | 69.34% | |
| Portalegre | 28,961 | 32.42% | 22,024 | 24.66% | 33,137 | 37.10% | 5,196 | 5.82% | 78.05% | |
| Porto | 413,407 | 45.17% | 284,250 | 31.06% | 152,919 | 16.71% | 64,566 | 7.06% | 79.05% | |
| Santarém | 117,657 | 43.10% | 61,661 | 22.59% | 68,133 | 24.96% | 25,522 | 9.35% | 75.99% | |
| Setúbal | 104,122 | 25.23% | 72,116 | 17.47% | 187,907 | 45.53% | 48,600 | 11.77% | 79.07% | |
| Viana do Castelo | 81,815 | 58.92% | 32,869 | 23.64% | 14,702 | 10.59% | 9,506 | 6.85% | 72.01% | |
| Vila Real | 84,459 | 63.73% | 35,050 | 26.45% | 9,362 | 7.06% | 3,655 | 2.76% | 68.59% | |
| Viseu | 147,519 | 66.20% | 54,344 | 24.39% | 14,378 | 6.45% | 6,584 | 2.95% | 70.18% | |
| Source: SGMAI Presidential Election Results | ||||||||||
Second round
| District | Soares | Freitas | Turnout | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||||
| Aveiro | 152,472 | 41.21% | 217,352 | 58.79% | 79.95% | |||||
| Azores | 44,464 | 40.55% | 65,177 | 59.45% | 79.95% | |||||
| Beja | 82,278 | 75.98% | 26,015 | 24.02% | 72.76% | |||||
| Braga | 190,746 | 46.42% | 220,150 | 53.58% | 82.77% | |||||
| Bragança | 32,196 | 32.28% | 67,531 | 67.72% | 72.40% | |||||
| Castelo Branco | 65,986 | 45.66% | 78,534 | 54.34% | 76.37% | |||||
| Coimbra | 137,735 | 52.79% | 123,192 | 47.21% | 76.01% | |||||
| Évora | 79,552 | 69.49% | 34,920 | 30.51% | 79.37% | |||||
| Faro | 113,089 | 56.81% | 85,961 | 43.19% | 75.50% | |||||
| Guarda | 44,187 | 36.10% | 78,217 | 63.90% | 74.93% | |||||
| Leiria | 94,791 | 37.29% | 159,401 | 62.71% | 78.16% | |||||
| Lisbon | 736,144 | 56.74% | 561,189 | 43.26% | 79.26% | |||||
| Madeira | 47,776 | 37.31% | 80,290 | 62.69% | 74.22% | |||||
| Portalegre | 59,550 | 65.25% | 31,712 | 34.75% | 79.68% | |||||
| Porto | 510,335 | 53.53% | 443,050 | 46.47% | 82.24% | |||||
| Santarém | 153,084 | 54.33% | 128,675 | 45.67% | 77.95% | |||||
| Setúbal | 289,199 | 70.88% | 118,790 | 29.12% | 78.44% | |||||
| Viana do Castelo | 56,176 | 38.41% | 90,094 | 61.59% | 75.33% | |||||
| Vila Real | 49,210 | 34.72% | 92,505 | 65.28% | 73.05% | |||||
| Viseu | 76,380 | 32.07% | 161,793 | 67.93% | 75.15% | |||||
| Source: SGMAI Presidential Election Results | ||||||||||
Maps
-
Most voted candidate by district - 1st Round.
-
Most voted candidate by district - 2nd Round.
-
Strongest candidate by municipality - 1st Round.
-
Strongest candidate by municipality - 2nd Round.
Notes
- ^ While not endorsing officially Soares, Pintasilgo refused to vote for Freitas do Amaral.
- ^ Results presented here exclude undecideds (31.2%). With their inclusion results are: Freitas do Amaral: 40.4%; Mário Soares: 28.4%;
- ^ Results presented here exclude undecideds (37.0%). With their inclusion results are: Freitas do Amaral: 42.0%; Mário Soares: 21.0%;
- ^ Results presented here exclude undecideds (54.2%). With their inclusion results are: Freitas do Amaral: 23.3%; Mário Soares: 22.5%;
- ^ Also supported by the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Party.
- ^ Supported by the Democratic Renewal Party, the Portuguese Communist Party and the Portuguese Democratic Movement.
- ^ Supported by the Popular Democratic Union.
References
- ^ "Mário Soares. O Presidente dos 8% até aos 70% e a unanimidade nacional". Sol (in Portuguese). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "A Duas Voltas: Mário Soares e as Presidenciais de 1986 Ep. 4". RTP Play (in Portuguese). 4 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Posse de Mário Soares como Presidente da República". RTP Arquivos (in Portuguese). 9 March 1986. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Segunda volta histórica entre Seguro e Ventura repete cenário de há 40 anos com quadro político inverso". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "A história é cíclica. 40 anos depois, Portugal está a caminho de uma segunda volta?". Sapo. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ a b "A Duas Voltas: Mário Soares e as Presidenciais de 1986 Ep. 1". RTP Play (in Portuguese). 1 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "Daniel Proença de Carvalho". Infopédia Porto Editora (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "1986: um país dividido ao meio na campanha para as presidenciais". Expresso (in Portuguese). 14 July 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Um candidato improvável à direita, três à esquerda. A história da "eleição mais louca de sempre"". Observador (in Portuguese). 4 October 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Soares, primeiro-ministro". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ "A vida de Soares, parte III. O feroz combate contra o PCP". Observador (in Portuguese). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Soares e Zenha. A luta entre irmãos que mudou para sempre a esquerda". Observador (in Portuguese). 18 October 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ ""A paulada é que me dói mais"". Expresso (in Portuguese). 27 September 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Únicas presidenciais com segunda volta foram em 1986 entre Freitas e Soares". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 16 November 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "A história dos 21 dias do "menor de dois males"". Expresso (in Portuguese). 15 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Os cartazes das eleições presidenciais desde 1976". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Os cartazes das eleições presidenciais desde 1976". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Os cartazes das eleições presidenciais desde 1976". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Os cartazes das eleições presidenciais desde 1976". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Primeiro frente a frente entre Zenha Freitas". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 18 December 1985. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Programação RTP". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 19 December 1985. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Programação RTP". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 26 December 1985. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Nenhum foi surpreendido". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 3 January 1986. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Programação RTP". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 7 January 1986. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Programação RTP". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). 9 January 1986. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Presidenciais 86, 2ª Volta: Debate Mário Soares vs Freitas do Amaral – Parte I". RTP Arquivos (in Portuguese). 4 February 1986. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Presidenciais 86 – Parte IX". RTP Arquivo (in Portuguese). 1986-01-26. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
- ^ "Presidenciais 86 – Parte VI". RTP Arquivo (in Portuguese). 1986-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ "Campanha Presidencial Mário Soares 1986". Casa Comum (in Portuguese). 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ Ramos, Rui; Tavares, João Miguel (March 28, 2024). "E o Resto é História: Portugal em 1985: O que foi o fenómeno PRD?" (video). youtube.com (in Portuguese). Observador. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ Ângelo Veloso (PCP): 4.0%
- ^ Manuel Costa Brás (Ind.): 2%; Others/Undecided: 28%
- ^ Candidate supported by Eanes: 2.8%; Others/Undecided: 19.1%
- ^ Alberto João Jardim (PSD): 13.0%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 9.2%; Others/Undecided: 38.7%
- ^ Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 10.6%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 10.5%; Adelino da Palma Carlos (Ind.): 3.6%; Others/Undecided: 36.1%
- ^ Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 13.9%; Francisco Pinto Balsemão (PSD): 3.3%; Others/Undecided: 45.1%
- ^ Alberto João Jardim (PSD): 13.2%; Others/Undecided: 46.8%
- ^ Alberto João Jardim (PSD): 13.2%; Álvaro Cunhal (PCP): 3.4%; Others/Undecided: 40.1%
- ^ Francisco Pinto Balsemão (PSD): 7.1%; Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 5.4%; Álvaro Cunhal (PCP): 3.9%; Others/Undecided: 40.6%
- ^ Alberto João Jardim (PSD): 15.2%; Álvaro Cunhal (PCP): 7.4%; Others/Undecided: 42.5%
- ^ Álvaro Cunhal (PCP): 7.7%; Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 7.2%; Francisco Pinto Balsemão (PSD): 4.2%; Others/Undecided: 39.2%
- ^ Alberto João Jardim (PSD): 6.8%; Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 6.6%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 6.0%; Francisco Pinto Balsemão (PSD): 4.2%; Carlos Brito (PCP): 2.9%; Others/Undecided: 25.4%
- ^ Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 9.8%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 6.7%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 4.6%; Alberto Franco Nogueira (Ind.): 2.2%; Manuel Costa Braz (Ind.): 1.5%; Others/Undecided: 45.7%
- ^ João Bosco Mota Amaral (PSD): 9%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 7%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 3%; Amadeu Garcia dos Santos (Ind.): 1%; Vasco Almeida e Costa (Ind.): 0%; Others/Undecided: 33%
- ^ João Bosco Mota Amaral (PSD): 9%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 5%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 3%; Amadeu Garcia dos Santos (Ind.): 1%; Vasco Almeida e Costa (Ind.): 0%; Others/Undecided: 39%
- ^ Francisco Lucas Pires (CDS): 6.2%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 5.4%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 5.1%; Manuel Costa Braz (Ind.): 0.7%; Others/Undecided: 56.3%
- ^ João Bosco Mota Amaral (PSD): 10%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 4%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 2%; Amadeu Garcia dos Santos (Ind.): 1%; Vasco Almeida e Costa (Ind.): 0%; Others/Undecided: 38%
- ^ Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 4.4%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 3.4%; Others/Undecided: 49.7%
- ^ João Bosco Mota Amaral (PSD): 10%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 4%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 1%; Amadeu Garcia dos Santos (Ind.): 1%; Vasco Almeida e Costa (Ind.): 0%; Others/Undecided: 32%
- ^ Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 8.7%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 5.8%; Manuel Costa Braz (Ind.): 1.0%; Others/Undecided: 36.0%
- ^ João Bosco Mota Amaral (PSD): 11%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 4%; Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 2%; Amadeu Garcia dos Santos (Ind.): 1%; Vasco Almeida e Costa (Ind.): 0%; Others/Undecided: 33%
- ^ Carlos Mota Pinto (PSD): 8.2%; Mário Firmino Miguel (Ind.): 1.3%; Others/Undecided: 34.0%
- ^ "Mapa oficial. D.R. n.º 37, Série I de 1986-02-14" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 14 February 1986. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Mapa oficial. D.R. n.º 55, Série I de 1983-05-26" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 7 March 1986. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- "CNE Resultados". Comissão Nacional de Eleições. Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2005.
- "Centro de Estudos do Pensamento Político". Archived from the original on 2006-08-18. Retrieved 17 May 2005.