# 2016 Portuguese presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Portugal on 24 January 2016. The election chose the successor to the President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, who was constitutionally not allowed to run for a third consecutive term.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the candidate supported by Social Democratic Party (PSD), CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) and People's Monarchist Party (PPM), won the election on the first round with 52 percent of the vote. Marcelo also won in every single district in the country and only lost a few municipalities in the south of the country. The Socialist Party (PS), for the first time in a Presidential election, didn't officially supported no candidate, with party members dividing their support for either António Sampaio da Nóvoa or Maria de Belém.
Portugal had about 9.7 million registered voters by election day. Turnout was higher than that of the 2011 election, but reached a record low in a presidential election with no incumbents as only 48.66 percent of the electorate cast a ballot.

## Background

Aníbal Cavaco Silva had served two consecutive five-year terms as president, the maximum number, and the 2016 election was to choose a successor for a term beginning on March 9. In Portugal, the president is the head of state, has mostly ceremonial powers. However, the president does have some political influence and can dissolve the Parliament of Portugal if a crisis occurs. The president also has an official residence in the Belém Palace in Lisbon.

## Electoral system

In order to stand for election, candidates must be of Portuguese origin and over 35 years old, gather 7,500 signatures of support one month before the election, and submit them to the Constitutional Court of Portugal.
Under Portuguese law, a candidate must receive a majority of votes (50% plus one vote) to be elected. If no candidate achieved a majority in the first round, a runoff election (i.e., second round, held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round) would have been held on February 14.

## Candidates
### Official candidates

On 29 December 2015 the Constitutional Court certified a record ten candidates as having met the requirements to appear on the ballot. This remains the highest numbers of candidates in a Presidential ballot in Portuguese democracy; previously, the highest number of presidential candidates had been six.
| Candidate | Supported by | Political office(s) | Details | Formalization date |
| Paulo de Morais (52) | Independent | Deputy Mayor of Porto (2002–2005) | Anti-corruption activist. | 1 December 2015 |
| Edgar Silva (53) | Portuguese Communist Party | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira (1996–2024) | Former Catholic priest; member of the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP). | 7 December 2015 |
| Henrique Neto (79) | Independent | Member of Parliament for Leiria (1995–1999) | Member of the Socialist Party (PS), failed to gain the support of the party. | 11 December 2015 |
| Marisa Matias (39) | Left Bloc  Socialist Alternative Movement | Member of the European Parliament (2009–2024) | Sociologist, who has worked in the areas of environment and public health. | 17 December 2015 |
| António Sampaio da Nóvoa (61) | Portuguese Workers' Communist Party  LIVRE/Time to Move Forward | None | Former Dean of the University of Lisbon (2006–2013); one of the two candidates endorsed by the Socialist Party (PS). | 22 December 2015 |
| Jorge Sequeira (66) | Independent | None | Psychologist, researcher and university professor. | 22 December 2015 |
| Maria de Belém Roseira (66) | Independent | President of the Socialist Party (2011–2014) President of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party (2011) Minister of Equality (1999–2000) Minister of Health (1995–1999) Member of Parliament for Lisbon (2005–2009; 2011–2015) Member of Parliament for Aveiro (2002–2005; 2009–2011) Member of Parliament for Porto (1999–2002) | Member of the Socialist Party (PS), was one of the two candidates endorsed by the party. | 22 December 2015 |
| Cândido Ferreira (66) | Independent | None | Nephrologist MD; former member of the Socialist Party (PS); former Chair of the Leiria Federation of the Socialist Party (1995–1999). | 23 December 2015 |
| Vitorino Silva (44) | Independent | President of the Parish Council of Rans (1994–2002) | More commonly known as Tino de Rans; paver; former member of the Socialist Party (PS). | 23 December 2015 |
| Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (67) | Social Democratic Party  CDS – People's Party  People's Monarchist Party | President of the Social Democratic Party (1996–1999) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (1982–1983) Member of the Consitituent Assembly (1975–1976) | Jurist; university professor; political commentator. | 23 December 2015 |

### Unsuccessful candidates

* Manuel João Vieira, singer, independent candidate.
* Manuel Almeida, independent.
* Paulo Freitas do Amaral, university professor, former president of the parish of Cruz Quebrada; withdrew and supported Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
* Orlando Cruz, withdrew in favour of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
* Graça Castanho, withdrew due to having lost her nomination signatures in a storm.
* Castanheira Barros, independent candidate, former member of the Social Democratic Party; withdrew and supported Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
* Manuela Gonzaga, historian and writer; was supported by the People–Animals–Nature.

### Decided not to run

* Fernando Nobre, Independent candidate which had contested the previous presidential election.
* António Vitorino, former European Commissioner (1999–2004).
* Paulo Portas, former leader of the CDS – People's Party (1998–2005, 2007–2016), former Minister of National Defence (2002–2005) and of Foreign Affairs (2011–2013) and also former Deputy Prime Minister (2013–2015).
* Manuela Ferreira Leite, former leader of the Social Democratic Party (2008–2010).
* António Guterres, former Prime Minister (1995–2002).
* Manuel Carvalho da Silva, former union leader of CGTP (1986–2012).
* Pedro Santana Lopes, former Prime Minister (2004–2005).
* Rui Rio, former mayor of Porto (2002–2013).
* Alberto João Jardim, former President of the Regional Government of Madeira (1978-2015).

## Campaign period
### Candidates' slogans

| Candidate | Original slogan | English translation |
| Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa | « Juntos por Portugal » | "Together for Portugal" |
| Sampaio da Nóvoa | « Um Cidadão Presidente » | "A Citizen President" |
| Marisa Matias | « Uma por todos » | "One for all" |
| Maria de Belém | « Belém, a força do caráter » | "Belém, the strength of character" |
| Edgar Silva | « Um homem justo para presidente » | "A fair man for president" |
| Vitorino Silva | « Portugal com Tino » | "Portugal with Tino" |
| Paulo de Morais | « Meter o país em ordem » | "Get the country in order" |
| Henrique Neto | « Porque Portugal precisa » | "Because Portugal needs" |
| Jorge Sequeira | « Portugal somos nós » | "Portugal is us" |
| Cândido Ferreira | « Pelo nosso futuro » | "For our future" |

### Candidates' debates

There were several number of debates between all the candidates in the three TV networks RTP, SIC, TVI. There was a radio debate between all candidates plus on January 19, there was a final debate between all of candidates on RTP1.
Completed televised debates:
2016 Portuguese presidential election debates :
| Date | Organizers | Moderators | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | P Present NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | Notes |
| Date | Organizers | Moderators | Neto | Nóvoa | Ferreira | Silva | Sequeira | Vitorino | Matias | Belém | Marcelo | Morais | Notes |
| 1 January 20:35 | RTP1 | José Rodrigues dos Santos | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | |
| 1 January 21:30 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | P | |
| 1 January 22:00 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | P | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | |
| 1 January 23:30 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | P | NI | NI | P | NI | |
| 2 January 20:40 | RTP1 | José Rodrigues dos Santos | P | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | |
| 2 January 21:30 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | P | |
| 2 January 22:00 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | |
| 3 January 20:40 | RTP1 | José Rodrigues dos Santos | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | |
| 3 January 21:30 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | |
| 3 January 22:00 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | P | NI | NI | |
| 4 January 10:10 | Antena 1 | Maria Flor Pedroso | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | |
| 4 January 20:40 | RTP1 | João Adelino Faria | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | |
| 4 January 21:30 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | P | NI | |
| 4 January 22:00 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | P | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | |
| 5 January 20:40 | RTP1 | João Adelino Faria | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | |
| 5 January 21:30 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | |
| 5 January 22:00 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | |
| 5 January 23:00 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | NI | P | A | NI | P | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | |
| 6 January 20:40 | RTP1 | João Adelino Faria | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | |
| 6 January 21:45 | TVI24 | Paulo Magalhães | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | P | |
| 6 January 23:30 | SIC Notícias | Anselmo Crespo | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | |
| 7 January 20:50 | SIC | Clara de Sousa | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | |
| 7 January 20:40 | RTP1 | João Adelino Faria | NI | NI | A | NI | P | P | NI | P | NI | NI | |
| 8 January 20:40 | RTP1 | João Adelino Faria | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | P | NI | |
| 9 January 20:45 | TVI | Judite de Sousa | NI | P | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | P | NI | NI | |
| 19 January 21:00 | RTP1 | Carlos Daniel Vítor Gonçalves | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | A | P | P | |

## Campaign budgets

| Candidate (party) | Election Result | State Subsidy | State Subsidy | Political Parties Contributions | Fundraising | Total Revenue | Total Revenue | Expenses | Debt |
| Candidate (party) | Election Result | Calculated | Budgeted | Political Parties Contributions | Fundraising | Calculated | Budgeted | Expenses | Debt |
| Marcelo R. Sousa (PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) | 52.0% | €0 | €90,000 | €0 | €67,000 | €0 | €157,000 | €157,000 | €0 |
| Sampaio da Nóvoa (I) | 22.9% | €0 | €798,000 | €0 | €170,000 | €0 | €968,000 | €742,000 | €0 |
| Marisa Matias (BE, MAS) | 10.1% | €0 | €308,660 | €0 | €146,000 | €0 | €454,660 | €454,660 | €0 |
| Maria de Belém (I) | 4.2% | €0 | €790,656 | €0 | €105,970 | €0 | €896,626 | €650,000 | €0 |
| Edgar Silva (PCP) | 3.9% | €0 | €377,750 | €342,250 | €30,000 | €0 | €750,000 | €750,000 | €0 |
| Vitorino Silva (I) | 3.3% | €0 | €0 | €0 | €50,000 | €0 | €50,000 | €50,000 | €0 |
| Paulo de Morais (I) | 2.2% | €0 | €61,000 | €0 | €32,000 | €0 | €93,000 | €93,000 | €0 |
| Henrique Neto (I) | 0.8% | €0 | €199,000 | €0 | €76,000 | €0 | €275,000 | €275,000 | €0 |
| Jorge Sequeira (I) | 0.3% | €0 | €0 | €0 | €123,500 | €0 | €123,500 | €123,500 | €0 |
| Cândido Ferreira (I) | 0.2% | €0 | €0 | €0 | €60,000 | €0 | €60,000 | €60,000 | €0 |
| Source: Portuguese Constitutional Court (TC) ||||||||||

## Voter turnout

The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas.
| Turnout | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time |
| Turnout | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Turnout | 2011 | 2016 | ± | 2011 | 2016 | ± | 2011 | 2016 | ± |
| Total | 13.39% | 15.82% | 2.43 pp | 35.16% | 37.69% | 2.53 pp | 46.52% | 48.66% | 2.14 pp |
| Sources ||||||||||

## Results

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa | Social Democratic Party–People's Party–People's Monarchist Party | 2,413,956 | 52.00 |
| | António Sampaio da Nóvoa | Independent supported by Portuguese Workers' Communist Party–LIVRE | 1,062,138 | 22.88 |
| | Marisa Matias | Left Bloc–Socialist Alternative Movement | 469,814 | 10.12 |
| | Maria de Belém | Independent | 196,765 | 4.24 |
| | Edgar Silva | Portuguese Communist Party | 183,051 | 3.94 |
| | Vitorino Silva | Independent | 152,374 | 3.28 |
| | Paulo de Morais | Independent | 100,191 | 2.16 |
| | Henrique Neto | Independent | 39,163 | 0.84 |
| | Jorge Sequeira [pt] | Independent | 13,954 | 0.30 |
| | Cândido Ferreira [pt] | Independent | 10,609 | 0.23 |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,642,015 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,642,015 | 97.84 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 43,588 | 0.92 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 58,964 | 1.24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,744,567 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 9,751,398 | 48.66 |
| Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições |||||

### Results by district

| 0000District0000 | 0000District0000 | Marcelo | Marcelo | Nóvoa | Nóvoa | Matias | Matias | Belém | Belém | Edgar Silva | Edgar Silva | Vitorino Silva | Vitorino Silva | Morais | Morais | Neto | Neto | Sequeira | Sequeira | Ferreira | Ferreira | Turnout |
| 0000District0000 | 0000District0000 | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Turnout |
| | Aveiro | 189,380 | 59.42% | 59,149 | 18.56% | 29,392 | 9.22% | 12,996 | 4.08% | 5,029 | 1.58% | 12,296 | 3.86% | 6,372 | 2.00% | 2,397 | 0.75% | 983 | 0.31% | 708 | 0.22% | 49.88% |
| | Azores | 39,811 | 58.07% | 14,768 | 21.54% | 6,073 | 8.86% | 3,041 | 4.44% | 907 | 1.32% | 1,522 | 2.22% | 1,457 | 2.13% | 577 | 0.84% | 212 | 0.31% | 190 | 0.29% | 30.92% |
| | Beja | 18,911 | 31.71% | 18,770 | 31.47% | 6,741 | 11.30% | 3,046 | 5.11% | 9,290 | 15.58% | 1,354 | 2.27% | 724 | 1.21% | 412 | 0.69% | 189 | 0.32% | 209 | 0.35% | 47.37% |
| | Braga | 244,205 | 58.96% | 82,976 | 20.03% | 34,686 | 8.37% | 16,318 | 3.94% | 7,676 | 1.85% | 14,951 | 3.61% | 7,210 | 1.74% | 3,234 | 0.78% | 2,071 | 0.50% | 866 | 0.21% | 53.53% |
| | Bragança | 36,173 | 61.91% | 11,484 | 19.65% | 4,253 | 7.28% | 2,688 | 4.60% | 701 | 1.20% | 1,582 | 2.71% | 783 | 1.34% | 452 | 0.77% | 152 | 0.26% | 161 | 0.28% | 40.46% |
| | Castelo Branco | 44,199 | 50.14% | 22,924 | 26.01% | 9,538 | 10.62% | 4,565 | 5.18% | 2,013 | 2.28% | 2,338 | 2.65% | 1,524 | 1.73% | 737 | 0.84% | 217 | 0.25% | 268 | 0.30% | 50.06% |
| | Coimbra | 94,184 | 50.19% | 43,577 | 23.22% | 26,101 | 13.91% | 8,561 | 4.56% | 4,186 | 2.23% | 4,973 | 2.65% | 3,577 | 1.91% | 1,440 | 0.77% | 362 | 0.19% | 703 | 0.37% | 49.21% |
| | Évora | 27,281 | 38.61% | 21,405 | 30.30% | 7,609 | 10.77% | 2,908 | 4.12% | 8,137 | 11.52% | 1,492 | 2.11% | 1,032 | 1.46% | 421 | 0.60% | 186 | 0.26% | 181 | 0.26% | 51.09% |
| | Faro | 76,560 | 47.62% | 38,311 | 23.83% | 22,155 | 13.78% | 7,071 | 4.40% | 5,710 | 3.55% | 4,290 | 2.67% | 4,767 | 2.96% | 1,144 | 0.71% | 379 | 0.24% | 392 | 0.24% | 44.35% |
| | Guarda | 42,087 | 58.53% | 15,549 | 21.62% | 6,316 | 8.78% | 3,096 | 4.31% | 1,006 | 1.40% | 2,108 | 2.93% | 882 | 1.23% | 482 | 0.67% | 180 | 0.25% | 198 | 0.28% | 45.17% |
| | Leiria | 126,494 | 61.07% | 35,253 | 17.02% | 19,630 | 9.48% | 6,540 | 3.16% | 4,169 | 2.01% | 6,142 | 2.97% | 4,110 | 1.98% | 3,401 | 1.64% | 425 | 0.21% | 966 | 0.47% | 50.18% |
| | Lisbon | 496,372 | 49.77% | 257,593 | 25.83% | 100,125 | 10.04% | 44,743 | 4.49% | 39,919 | 4.00% | 21,302 | 2.14% | 23,444 | 2.35% | 10,207 | 1.02% | 2,062 | 0.21% | 1,517 | 0.15% | 53.63% |
| | Madeira | 58,423 | 51.35% | 12,825 | 11.27% | 11,448 | 10.06% | 3,157 | 2.78% | 22,414 | 19.70% | 1,044 | 0.92% | 2,699 | 2.37% | 884 | 0.78% | 498 | 0.44% | 372 | 0.33% | 45.50% |
| | Portalegre | 20,945 | 42.88% | 14,934 | 30.57% | 4,910 | 10.05% | 2,208 | 4.52% | 3,484 | 7.13% | 1,122 | 2.30% | 582 | 1.19% | 285 | 0.58% | 113 | 0.23% | 261 | 0.53% | 49.46% |
| | Porto | 428,067 | 51.28% | 181,698 | 21.76% | 85,334 | 10.22% | 37,848 | 4.53% | 20,817 | 2.49% | 47,405 | 5.68% | 22,365 | 2.68% | 6,273 | 0.75% | 3,490 | 0.42% | 1,529 | 0.18% | 53.48% |
| | Santarém | 100,119 | 51.11% | 46,150 | 23.56% | 21,080 | 10.76% | 8,722 | 4.45% | 7,976 | 4.07% | 5,873 | 3.00% | 3,652 | 1.86% | 1,346 | 0.69% | 447 | 0.23% | 512 | 0.26% | 51.06% |
| | Setúbal | 135,300 | 37.89% | 106,114 | 29.71% | 46,326 | 12.97% | 15,204 | 4.26% | 33,930 | 9.50% | 8,292 | 2.32% | 8,211 | 2.30% | 2,285 | 0.64% | 843 | 0.24% | 625 | 0.18% | 50.17% |
| | Viana do Castelo | 63,744 | 57.03% | 25,613 | 22.92% | 8,540 | 7.64% | 3,686 | 3.30% | 1,769 | 1.58% | 4,256 | 3.81% | 2,663 | 2.38% | 894 | 0.80% | 328 | 0.29% | 275 | 0.25% | 45.10% |
| | Vila Real | 58,283 | 62.28% | 18,638 | 19.92% | 6,343 | 6.78% | 3,739 | 4.00% | 1,264 | 1.35% | 2,898 | 3.10% | 1,213 | 1.30% | 760 | 0.81% | 213 | 0.23% | 230 | 0.25% | 41.67% |
| | Viseu | 103,394 | 62.57% | 30,993 | 18.76% | 12,002 | 7.26% | 5,974 | 3.62% | 2,608 | 1.25% | 6,705 | 4.06% | 2,282 | 1.38% | 1,117 | 0.68% | 355 | 0.21% | 353 | 0.21% | 45.57% |
| | Overseas | 7,993 | 57.30% | 2,666 | 19.11% | 1,160 | 8.32% | 609 | 4.37% | 544 | 3.90% | 149 | 1.07% | 459 | 3.29% | 234 | 1.68% | 66 | 0.47% | 69 | 0.49% | 4.69% |
| Source: 2016 Presidential election results |||||||||||||||||||||||

### Maps

* Strongest candidate by electoral district.
* Strongest candidate by municipality: Marcelo - orange; Nóvoa - magenta; Edgar Silva - red.