The 4th Legislature of the Third Portuguese Republic () ran from 4 November 1985 to 12 August 1987. The composition of the Assembly of the Republic, the legislative body of Portugal, was determined by the results of the 1985 legislative election, held on 6 October 1985.

In April 1987, Aníbal Cavaco Silva's government was defeated by a motion of no confidence in Parliament and the government fell. The opposition parties, the Socialist Party (PS), the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) and the United People Alliance (APU), proposed an alternative government between them, to avoid elections, but this was rejected by President Mário Soares, who decided to dissolve the Assembly and call an election for 19 July 1987.

Election The 5th Portuguese legislative election was held on 6 October 1985. In the election, the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) won the most seats and formed a minority government.Official Results — National Election Commission

Party Assembly of the Republic Votes % Seats +/−PPD/PSD 1,732,288 29.87 88 +13PS 1,204,321 20.77 57 –44PRD 1,038,893 17.92 45 +45 APU 898,281 15.49 38 –6CDS 577,580 9.96 22 –8 Other/blank/invalid 347,566 5.99 0 ±0 Total 5,798,929 100.00 250 ±0

Composition (1985–1987) Party Parliamentary group leaderElectedDissolution Seats % Seats % António Capucho (Faro)8835.28734.8 José Luís Nunes (Porto) (1985–1986)Ferraz de Abreu (Aveiro) (1986–1987)5722.85622.4PRDHermínio Martinho (Santarém)4518.04518.0 Carlos Brito (Faro)3514.03413.6 Narana Coissoró (Lisbon)228.8228.8MDP/CDEJoão Corregedor da Fonseca (Setúbal) 31.231.2 IndependentGonçalo Ribeiro Telles (Porto)Maria Amélia Santos (Lisbon)Rui Oliveira e Costa (Lisbon)00.031.2  Total250100.0250100.0

Changes On 16 November 1985, MP Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles, elected in the Socialist Party lists, left the party and became an Independent, following the agreement he made with the party in order to be elected in the 1985 elections.

Also on 16 November 1985, MP Maria Amélia Santos, elected in the United People Alliance lists, became an Independent representing the Ecologist Party "The Greens".

On 24 June 1986, MP Rui Oliveira e Costa, elected in the Social Democratic Party lists, became an Independent after leaving the PSD caucus following disagreements with the party regarding policy and the 1986 Presidential election.

Election for President of the Assembly of the Republic To be elected, a candidate needs to reach a minimum of 126 votes. There were two candidates on the ballot: Incumbent President Fernando Monteiro do Amaral, from the Social Democratic Party, and former President of the Assembly Manuel Tito de Morais, from the Socialist Party. Monteiro do Amaral was easily reelected.

Election of the President of the Assembly of the Republic 1st Ballot → 8 November 1985 Required majority → 126 out of 250 Fernando Monteiro do Amaral (PPD/PSD) Manuel Tito de Morais (PS) Blank ballots Invalid ballots Absentees Sources:

One year later, on 28 October 1986, another ballot was called to elect, again, the President of the Assembly. Only incumbent President Fernando Monteiro do Amaral, from the Social Democratic Party, was on the ballot and he was reelected as President:

Election of the President of the Assembly of the Republic 1st Ballot → 28 October 1986 Required majority → 126 out of 250 Fernando Monteiro do Amaral (PPD/PSD) Against Blank ballots Invalid ballots Abstentions Absentees Sources:

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