A presidential election was held in Portugal on 23 January 2011. Incumbent head of state Aníbal Cavaco Silva ran for a second term as president, facing a rematch by Manuel Alegre, this time with the support of the PS and also the Left Bloc (BE).
Cavaco Silva won re-election by a landslide, with 53 percent of the votes, winning all 18 districts, both autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira and 292 municipalities out of a total of 308. Manuel Alegre polled once again second, but below his 2006 result, with just 19.7 percent of the votes and polling first in just 3 municipalities, whereas independent candidate Fernando Nobre finished a strong third with 14 percent of the votes. The communist supported candidate, Francisco Lopes, achieved a rather strong result, taking into account his low recognition in the electorate, by gathering 7 percent of the votes and taking first place in 10 municipalities,, while novelty candidate José Manuel Coelho surprised with 4.5 percent of the votes, having performed well in his native Madeira.
Turnout in this election was very low, with only 46.52 percent of the electorate casting a ballot, the lowest till then (only surpassed in 2021). Cavaco Silva was sworn in for a second term as President on 9 March 2011.
Background In the 2006 presidential election, former Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the only candidate of the center-right, was elected on the first round with 50.5 percent of the votes. He had faced two particular candidates from the ruling Socialist Party, the official candidate Mário Soares, former President of the Republic came in third with 14.3 percent, and Manuel Alegre, a dissident, who ranked second with 20.7 percent of votes. This historic victory of a conservative candidate, the first after the Carnation Revolution, inaugurated a period of "political cohabitation" with Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates. In the beginning, the relationship between Cavaco and Sócrates was good, but by the middle of the president's first term, it became more tense, reaching a breaking point in 2009.
The president started warning about the country's economic situation, mainly unemployment, and also disagreeing with the government regarding legislation. Plus, just before the September 2009 legislative election, which returned the PS to power, albeit under a minority capacity, the presidency started to suspect that they were being monitored by the government through wiretaps.Cronologia do caso das escutas, Público, 30 September 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2026. Furthermore, a banking scandal that led to the nationalization of a bank managed by figures close to the president also created more friction between Cavaco Silva and prime minister José Sócrates.. By the same time, the country's economic situation worsened, following the 2008 financial crisis and the Euro area crisis, with the government being forced to adopt austerity measures and budget cuts, leading the head of state to intervene and mediate talks between the government and the PSD opposition, but with the president and the prime minister publicly clashing regarding the state of the country.
Pre-campaign
In the follow-up for the presidential election, with Cavaco Silva having strong approval ratings and his re-election being virtually guaranteed, divisions once again emerged in the Socialist Party regarding a candidate to face Cavaco, with the party fragmenting their votes between three candidates: the official party supported Manuel Alegre, independent Fernando Nobre, and party dissident, and former mayor of Viana do Castelo, Defensor Moura. The Left Bloc's support for Alegre also generated divisions and criticisms. On the left-wing, the communists launched a relatively unknown candidate, party employee Francisco Lopes, while protest candidate José Manuel Coelho also filed a candidacy.
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, to be elected, a candidate needs a simple majority (50% + 1). If no candidate gets this majority there is a second round between the two most voted candidates. Changes to the electoral registration system, approved in 2008, which made registration automatic based on each voter's Identity card, led to a significant increase in the number of registered voters, from 9,1 million in 2006 to 9,7 million in 2011.
Candidates Official candidates CandidateParty supportPolitical office(s)DetailsRef.Aníbal Cavaco Silva (71)President of the Republic (2006–2016)Prime Minister (1985–1995)President of the Social Democratic Party (1985–1995)Minister of Finance (1980–1981)Incumbent President after winning the 2006 presidential election with 50.5% of the votes; eligible for a second term.Manuel Alegre (74)Member of the Council of State (1996–2002; 2005–2015)Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic (1995–2009)Member of the Assembly of the Republic (1975–2009)Secretary of State Adjunct of the Prime Minister (1977–1978)Secretary of State for Social Communication (1976–1977)Socialist Party (PS) member; candidate in the 2006 presidential election, finishing second with 20.7% of the votes.Fernando Nobre (59)NoneNoneIndependent; physician; founder and head of the International Medical Assistance (AMI); member of Médecins Sans Frontières.Francisco Lopes (55)Member of the Assembly of the Republic (2005–2019)Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) member; electrician.José Manuel Coelho (58)Member of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira (2008–2018)Satirical candidate.Defensor Moura (65)NoneMember of the Assembly of the Republic (1985–1987; 2009–2011)Mayor of Viana do Castelo (1994–2009)Socialist Party (PS) member, failed to receive the support of the party; physician.
Unsuccessful candidacies
Luís Botelho Ribeiro – Leader of the Pro-life party. His application was formalised on Monday, 20 December, with over 8,000 signatures. His candidacy was analysed by the Constitutional Court. On 29 December, the court concluded that his candidacy did not meet the requirements provided by law. José Ribeiro e Castro – Member of the Democratic and Social Centre – People´s Party, speculated to run as an alternative right-wing candidate, because of Cavaco's decision to approve same-sex marriage. However, he did not go forward with his candidacy. José Pinto Coelho – Leader of the far-right National Renovator Party. He declared that his candidacy for the presidency was "cut short" by failing to gather the 7,500 signatures required. He claimed to have gathered 5,878 signatures.
Campaign period Issues The country's deep economic crisis and the Portuguese Bank of Business (BPN) case dominated the campaign. On this latter issue, the nationalization of the bank, linked to figures from the Cavacoism era, created an embarrassment for the incumbent President, with his opponents questioning his silence and relationship with those involved in the bank's collapse. Cavaco accused his adversaries of "vile baseness" and of spreading lies and insinuations. On the left-wing, Manuel Alegre repeated his 2006 run, but this time with the official support from the PS and the Left Bloc. However, his candidacy created divisions within the Socialists, with some supporting the independent candidacy of Fernando Nobre, including the wife and daughter of former president Mário Soares, while Soares himself criticized the PS support for Alegre and refused to endorse him.
Party slogans Candidate Original slogan English translation Refs Aníbal Cavaco Silva « Acredito nos Portugueses » "I believe in the Portuguese" width="1" Manuel Alegre « Um Presidente justo e solidário » "A fair and supportive President" Fernando Nobre « Um Presidente como nós » "A President like us" Francisco Lopes « O voto certo na mudança necessária » "The right vote in the necessary change" Defensor Moura « Contra a resignação » "Against resignation"
Candidates' debates 2011 Portuguese presidential election debates Date Organisers Moderator(s) Cavaco Alegre Nobre Lopes Moura Refs 14 Dec 2010 RTP1 Judite de SousaNNPPN 16 Dec 2010 RTP1 Judite de SousaNPNNP 17 Dec 2010 SIC Clara de SousaPNPNN 18 Dec 2010 SIC Clara de SousaNPNPN 21 Dec 2010 TVI Constança Cunha e SáPNNPN 22 Dec 2010 TVI Constança Cunha e SáNPPNN 23 Dec 2010 SIC Clara de SousaPNNNP 27 Dec 2010 RTP1 Judite de SousaNNPNP 28 Dec 2010 TVI Constança Cunha e SáNNNPP 29 Dec 2010 RTP1 Judite de SousaPPNNN
Opinion polls
Campaign budgets Candidate (party)ElectionResultState SubsidyPolitical PartiesContributionsFundraisingTotal RecipesExpensesDebt Calculated Budgeted Calculated Budgeted (PSD, CDS-PP, MEP) 53.0% €1,920,000 €1,570,000 €0 €550,000 €2,470,000 €2,120,000 €2,120,000 €0 (PS, BE, PDA, PCTP) 19.7% €836,000 €1,350,000 €500,000 €50,000 €1,386,000 €1,900,000 €1,640,000 €254,000 (I) 14.1% €653,000 €511,200 €0 €331,460 €984,460 €842,660 €842,660 €0 (PCP, PEV) 7.1% €425,000 €512,000 €270,000 €18,000 €713,000 €800,000 €800,000 €87,000 (I) 1.6% €0 €225,000 €0 €25,000 €25,000 €250,000 €250,000 €225,000 (PND) 4.5% €0 €10,000 €30,000 €50,000 €80,000 €90,000 €90,000 €10,000 (PPV) - - €7,000 €0 €0 €7,000 €7,000 €7,000 €0 Source: Portuguese Constitutional Court (TC).(Note that some candidates filed with the TC, but did not pursue their candidacy.)
Voter turnout The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas.
Turnout Time 12:00 16:00 19:00 2006 2011 ± 2006 2011 ± 2006 2011 ± Total 19.32% 13.39% 5.93 pp 45.56% 35.16% 10.40 pp 61.53% 46.52% 15.01 pp Sources
Results National summary
Results by district District Cavaco Alegre Nobre Lopes Manuel Coelho Defensor Moura Turnout Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Aveiro 182,730 60.70% 52,820 17.55% 40,873 13.58% 11,190 3.72% 9,924 3.30% 3,487 1.16% 49.25% Azores 36,122 56.04% 16,197 25.13% 7,037 10.92% 1,464 2.27% 2,925 4.54% 714 1.11% 31.12% Beja 18,754 33.31% 14,300 25.40% 6,108 10.85% 14,886 26.44% 1,667 2.96% 588 1.04% 43.50% Braga 222,444 57.77% 74,086 19.24% 50,336 13.07% 17,189 4.46% 14,137 3.67% 6,875 1.79% 52.54% Bragança 37,456 65.11% 10,860 18.88% 5,453 9.48% 1,632 2.84% 1,526 2.65% 603 1.05% 39.10% Castelo Branco 45,518 53.81% 45,518 22.64% 10,518 12.43% 4,488 5.31% 3,798 4.49% 1,121 1.33% 47.07% Coimbra 85,579 52.02% 38,155 23.19% 23,811 14.47% 9,285 5.64% 5,934 3.61% 1,746 1.06% 45.15% Évora 24,250 37.63% 15,886 24.65% 7,643 11.86% 13,962 21.67% 2,050 3.18% 651 1.01% 46.52% Faro 76,896 52.27% 27,248 18.52% 23,474 15.96% 10,889 7.40% 6,048 4.36% 2,186 1.49% 43.91% Guarda 42,762 59.98% 13,608 19.09% 8,903 12.49% 2,706 3.80% 2,542 3.57% 771 1.08% 43.62% Leiria 118,748 61.64% 28,095 14.58% 27,855 14.46% 9,040 4.69% 6,632 3.44% 2,266 1.18% 48.94% Lisbon 411,341 48.59% 184,446 21.79% 136,633 16.14% 72,465 8.56% 29,070 3.43% 12,668 1.50% 48.46% Madeira 52,168 44.01% 9,105 7.68% 7,687 6.48% 2,346 1.98% 46,247 39.01% 986 0.83% 47.92% Portalegre 20,360 44.69% 12,038 26.42% 5,062 11.11% 5,895 12.94% 1,667 3.66% 537 1.18% 45.27% Porto 415,408 54.83% 151,668 20.02% 113,613 14.99% 41,839 5.52% 24,748 3.27% 10,415 1.37% 51.41% Santarém 95,479 51.90% 35,723 19.42% 28,061 15.25% 15,462 8.40% 7,148 3.89% 2,108 1.15% 48.72% Setúbal 109,800 36.57% 70,480 23.48% 50,762 16.91% 54,472 18.14% 10,560 3.52% 4,147 1.38% 45.27% Viana do Castelo 64,719 58.66% 14,854 13.64% 10,962 9.94% 3,937 3.57% 4,105 3.72% 11,745 10.65% 45.24% Vila Real 59,378 65.47% 16,431 18.12% 8,610 9.49% 2,536 2.80% 2,853 3.15% 889 0.98% 40.16% Viseu 103,576 64.97% 25,053 15.71% 19,795 12.42% 4,575 2.87% 4,971 3.12% 1,460 0.92% 44.05% Overseas 8,115 65.39% 2,432 19.60% 872 7.03% 663 5.34% 179 1.44% 149 1.20% 5.54% Source: 2011 Presidential election results
Maps
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Aníbal Cavaco Silva official website