Lisbon Municipality Vote Recount Scheduled
A recount of votes from the local elections in one polling station in São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon, will take place on Tuesday, November 4th, starting at 9 AM at the Palace of Justice, according to an announcement released today by the Municipal Council.
Recount of votes in Lisbon could change the distribution of councilors (Lusa)
High Stakes for Council Seat Allocation
The recount process, which will be overseen by a judicial magistrate, holds particular importance in assigning a councilor seat in the executive body of the Lisbon Municipal Council (CML) to either Chega or the CDU (PCP/PEV). These political forces are currently separated by just one vote, with Chega holding the advantage.
Impact on Municipal Inauguration
The recount also affects the inauguration of Lisbon's municipal bodies, where Carlos Moedas (PSD) was re-elected as Mayor. This ceremony can only proceed after the definitive results are announced.
Constitutional Court Ruling
The recount follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court (TC) regarding an appeal filed by the CDU. The TC ordered the "recount of votes from polling station No. 28 in the São Domingos de Benfica parish assembly, concerning the election for the Municipal Council."
In the same ruling, the judges also validated a null vote in favor of the CDU in a polling station in Santa Maria Maior parish and declared null another vote that had been attributed to Chega.
Chega's Appeal and Rejection
In response to this decision, Chega filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court on Monday, disagreeing with the ruling, particularly the validation of a null vote for the CDU, which they considered "completely wrong and reveals a certain partiality."
This appeal by Chega was rejected on Thursday by the TC, which deemed it "legally inadmissible."
Vote Margin Evolution
In the election for the Lisbon Municipal Council, Chega initially led the CDU by a difference of 11 votes, according to provisional results from election day on October 12th.
Days later, the local counting assembly reported that this difference had been reduced to three votes.
With the Constitutional Court's ruling, Chega's advantage over the CDU was narrowed to just one vote.
Significance for Councilor Seats
The vote difference between Chega and CDU is crucial for the election of councilors in the Lisbon Council. The party that comes out ahead will secure two mandates, while the other will only get one.
If Chega is confirmed as the third most voted candidacy, after PSD/CDS-PP/IL and PS/Livre/BE/PAN, the CDU would lose one communist councilor in the capital compared to the two elected in 2021.
Election Results Overview
In the local elections on October 12th, social democrat Carlos Moedas was re-elected Mayor of Lisbon by the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition with 41.69% of the votes, defeating socialist Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), who received 33.95%.
Of the 17 mandates that make up the municipal executive of Lisbon, the "Por ti, Lisboa" coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/IL) won eight, and the "Viver Lisboa" candidacy (PS/Livre/BE/PAN) obtained six, according to electoral results. These results also assign councilors to Chega and CDU, but it remains to be clarified which party elects two and not just one.
In the 2021-2025 term, the municipal executive included seven elected members from the "Novos Tempos" coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), seven from the "Mais Lisboa" coalition (PS/Livre), two from the CDU, and one from BE. Chega did not manage to elect any councilors in 2021.
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