Latest Opinion Poll for Portugal's Election (Eurosondagem, October 8, 2020)

October 5, 2020 - October 8, 2020

1010 respondents

Next General Election in Portugal: 2029

The next General Election in Portugal is expected in 2029.

Portugal's Incumbent Government Lacks Majority

Based on the Eurosondagem projection, the incumbent governing parties would currently secure 34.8% of the parliamentary seats.

Who is leading in the latest poll from Eurosondagem?

In the latest opinion poll for the election in Portugal, conducted by Eurosondagem on October 8, 2020, Partido Socialista leads with 38.8%. Trailing are PSD: 29%, Bloco de Esquerda: 8.1%, CDU: 5.5%, Chega: 4.8%, CDS–Partido Popular: 3.3%, PAN: 2% and Iniciativa Liberal: 1.3%. Other parties secure 7.2% of the votes.

Current Election Trend: Portugal
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Quality Check: How Reliable is the Eurosondagem Projection?

73

PolitPro Score

Eurosondagem achieved a PolitPro Score of 73 out of 100.

1.0

Election Accuracy

On average, Eurosondagem's figures deviate by 1.0 percentage points between their final pre-election polls and actual election results.

Eurosondagem at a Glance
Polling data, historical accuracy, and party bias
Which institutes are the most reliable?
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Potential Majorities and Coalition Scenarios

230
Majority requires 116 seats

No Electoral Threshold

There is no electoral threshold for the election in Portugal.

Aliança Democrática + Partido Socialista
Centre
58.7%
Aliança Democrática + Chega + Iniciativa Liberal
Right
56.5%
Partido Socialista + Iniciativa Liberal + Bloco de Esquerda + LIVRE + CDU
Left
50.0%
Partido Socialista + Iniciativa Liberal + Bloco de Esquerda + LIVRE + PAN
Left
48.7%
Aliança Democrática + Chega
Right
48.3%
Partido Socialista + Iniciativa Liberal + Bloco de Esquerda + LIVRE
Left
47.0%
Partido Socialista + Iniciativa Liberal + Bloco de Esquerda + CDU
Left
44.8%
Partido Socialista + Iniciativa Liberal + LIVRE + CDU
Left
44.8%

Projected Parliamentary Composition (Source: CESOP-UCP)

According to CESOP-UCP, 8 parties are projected to surpass the electoral threshold and enter the Portuguese parliament: Aliança Democrática with 70 representatives, Partido Socialista with 65 representatives, Chega with 41 representatives, Iniciativa Liberal with 19 representatives, Bloco de Esquerda with 12 representatives, LIVRE with 12 representatives, CDU with 7 representatives and PAN with 4 representatives.

The Electoral System in Portugal

Portugal's Parliament, the Assembleia da República, comprises 230 members elected for a four-year term. The electoral system is based on proportional representation, dividing the nation into 22 constituencies: the mainland districts, the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, and two for overseas voters. Seats are allocated using the D'Hondt method. Portugal employs closed party lists, meaning voters select a party's slate of candidates without directly influencing the order of individual nominees.

Electoral Thresholds

A distinctive feature of Portugal's electoral system is the absence of a formal legal threshold at the national level, unlike the 5% hurdle seen in Germany. The de facto barrier for parliamentary entry arises from the size of each constituency and the number of seats allocated, creating a 'natural quorum.' This means smaller parties have realistic chances in populous districts such as Lisbon or Porto, while in the smaller, inland districts, only the strongest political forces typically secure representation.

Government Formation and Traditions

In Portugal, the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister after consulting with parliamentary parties and considering the election results. Since outright majorities are uncommon, coalition or minority governments frequently form. A well-known model is the 'Geringonça,' an informal arrangement where left-wing parties supported a minority government. While the government does not require a formal vote of confidence to assume office, it can be brought down by the rejection of its program or a parliamentary vote of no confidence.

Coalition Calculator
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Data Sources and Methodology

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