Political parties in Portugal lists political parties in Portugal.
Portugal has a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.
The parties
The general rule on naming applies. That means: the parties are named in the English translation and the original native name is placed on the first line of the article unless the native form is more commonly used in English than the English form. Rationale and specifics: See: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English).
Partido Social Democrata (Social Democratic Party) - The name might be somewhat misleading, as the PSD is not a traditional Social Democratic Party, being itself much closer to the right-wing. It is the Portuguese equivalent of any other centre-right party in Europe such as the UK Conservatives, the Spanish PP, or the German CDU. PSD was founded right after 1974 Revolution as Partido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party) by many presonalities of the so-called "liberal wing" of the fascist regime, like Francisco Sá Carneiro, Francisco Pinto Balsemão and Magalhães Mota.
Partido Comunista Português (Portuguese Communist Party) - The major leftwing party in Portugal, founded in 1921 as the Portuguese Section of The Communist International (Comintern) is traditionally and by historical influence the party of the portuguese working class which played a major role in the opposition to the Salazar regime, being brutally repressed several times during the 48 years of resistance. After being one of the most influent parties in the years that followed the Carnation Revolution it became lesser influent after the fall of the socialist bloc of eastern Europe, but still enjoys popularity in vast sectors of Portuguese society, particularly in the rural areas of the Alentejo and Ribatejo and also in the heavily industrialized areas around Lisbon and Setúbal. It also has a major influence among the biggest portuguese Labour Union - CGTP (General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers). Its historical leader is Álvaro Cunhal.
Partido Popular (Popular Party) - A traditional Christian Democrat party, very similar to the German CSU. Also founded after the revolution it is to the right of the PSD, and advocates stringent social and religious conservatism, in 1976 it was the only Party that voted against approval of the Constitution.
Bloco de Esquerda (Leftwing Bloc) - Formed in 1999 by several left-wing parties, it adopts a wide range of left-wing policies, concentrating its efforts on the legalisation of abortion and light drugs . It portrays itself as a modern, progressive alternative to the monolithic Communist Party. In the last years the Party lost some of its radical wordiness and proposals, slowly becoming a mainstream party.
Os Verdes (The Greens) - Founded in 1982 and traditionally allied in a coalition with the Communist Party (in CDU), although they have a little expression in the political life, they have some important knowledge and intervention about environmental issues.
Nova Democracia (New Democracy) - A new party which resulted from a separatism from the PP. It resembles the American Republican Party.
Partido Comunista dos Trabalhadores Portugueses - Movimento Reorganisativo do Partido do Proletariado (Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers - Reorganisative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat) - An old Maoist, pro-chinese party. Had a high-profile during the Carnation Revolution, mostly due to its verbal violence and its influence among some groups of students, actually it never reached 1% of the voting or elected a single MP. Generally the largest political party without parliamentary representation.
Partido Nacional Renovador (National Renewal Party) - Nationalist party, very close to the French Front National. Although fascist parties are forbidden under the Portuguese Constitution, this party is legal, assuming itself as neo-nationalist although many of its members express their simpathy for the fascist regime.
Partido Democrata do Atlântico (Democrat Party of the Atlantic) - Small party whose electorate concentrates itself in the Azores. It defends the independence of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands and the formation of an Atlantic Island Federation. It seldom gets more than 1% of the votes, even in the Azores.
Partido Popular Monárquico (People's Monarchist Party) - Small monarchist party with little political expression. It is known that the heir to the Portuguese Throne , Dom Duarte Pio, does not support this party.
Partido Operário de Unidade Socialista (Workers' Party of Socialist Unity) - The last placed in the electoral scorecard, with about 0.1% of the votes, it is an almost non-existent party, although it is member of one small faction of the former Fourth International called the International Secretariat of the Fourth International.
