Livre Emerges as the Left's Sole Victor in Portugal's Electoral Shake-Up

Livre surpasses its 2024 vote count and secures additional seats in Parliament, marking a significant shift in Portugal's political landscape.

By 10:30 PM, Livre had already exceeded the 204,676 votes it garnered in the 2024 legislative elections. Half an hour later, the party celebrated the election of its fifth deputy, Paulo Muacho from Setúbal, surpassing its 2024 deputy count. By the end of the night, Livre had overtaken the Left Bloc and the CDU to become the second-largest force on the left in Parliament.

Key victories and strategic gains

The first deputy elected was Jorge Pinto from the Porto constituency, followed by Rui Tavares and Isabel Mendes Lopes from Lisbon. Isabel Mendes Lopes expressed concerns over the "high tide" of the "radicalized right" following initial TV projections. The election of Filipa Pinto after 10:45 PM was a moment of celebration, as Livre matched its 2024 deputy count. Patrícia Gonçalves became the third deputy elected from Lisbon.

Livre's remarkable growth

Livre was the only left-wing party to increase both its vote share (by 46,000) and its number of deputies (gaining two more in Porto and Lisbon). The party saw significant vote increases in Porto (9,837 more votes, totaling 47,156) and Setúbal (7,148 more votes, totaling 28,700), where it outperformed the IL. In the Lisbon district, Livre gained an additional 15,518 votes.