Portuguese legislative election, 1983
- APU Template: Election chart / Maintenance / Name: 44
- PS: 101
- PSD: 75
- CDS Template: Election chart / Maintenance / Name: 30
The parliamentary election in Portugal 1983 was held on April 25.
It was necessary, as the successor of Francisco Sá Carneiro in the Office of the Prime Minister, Francisco Pinto Balsemão, resigned in December 1982 and supported by the PSD successor candidate, the MFA member, Vítor Crespo, was rejected by President António Ramalho Eanes. The President broke in February 1983, the Parliament, even though a majority of the State Council had objected. This new elections were due.
This was also the culmination of a protracted over several months decay process of the outgoing government coalition of AD. Also in February 1983, the group continued the 44 within the PSD their opinion by that party should start from the AD in the upcoming elections without their previous two allies. This alienation process was also evident in major personnel decisions of the former AD- parties in March 1983. Way was at the 10th Congress of the Social Democrats ( PSD) by Nuno Pinto Balsemão Rodrigues dos Santos replaced as president of the National Political Commission, during the 5th Congress of the CDS Francisco Lucas Pires elected president.
The Socialist Party (PS ) had their forces reorganized during the years of opposition, when adopted in August 1982 reform of the Constitution, as well as President Eanes for his re-election in December 1980 to the since both the center-right government led by Pinto Balsemão support were instructed by the Socialists. The PS therefore felt strong enough also to compete in the elections without allies. From the electoral coalitions of the past few years only, which consists of Communists and MPD / CDE APU came again, which was reinforced by the 1982 newly-founded the Green Party.
On April 25, the Socialists were indeed emerged as the strongest party, but had missed the absolute majority. But the mandates of the two former ruling parties PDS and CDS were not enough to form a government, especially since the third former ruling party, the little monarchist People's Party, with a vote share of only 0.5 % lost all political significance. In this situation, decided on a survey of members of the Socialist Party, the majority to start coalition talks with the PSD. The new leadership of the Social Democrats under Carlos Mota Pinto PSD signaled the beginning of May 1983 its willingness to negotiate. End of May, the leader of the strongest party, the Secretary General of the Socialist Mário Soares, by the president to form a government was then commissioned. In early June, adopted PS and PSD made a statement on forming a joint government. This center-left alliance, the public quickly referred to as " Bloco Central", with 176 of 250 deputies had a solid foundation.
On June 9, 1983 Mario Soares joined for the second time to the Office of the Prime Minister. Carlos Mota Pinto, one of the three vice-presidents of the PSD and a crucial supporter of the coalition with the Socialists, resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister in this government. A difficult task was the former Ambassador of Portugal to the United Nations, José Veiga Simão ( PS), as industry and energy minister. This government remained until the elections on October 6, 1985 at the office.
The turnout was 77.79 %. The counting was carried out according to the D' Hondt method.