Democratic Alliance (Portugal)

The Democratic Alliance (Portuguese: Aliança Democrática, AD) was a centre-right conservative political alliance, in Portugal, between the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD), the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM) existing between 1979 and 1983. After its official dissolution, the coalition was still revived in local elections after 1989 and presented lists across the country in every single local election after 2001.

Democratic Alliance
Aliança Democrática
AbbreviationAD
Founded5 July 1979
Dissolved1983 (Repeated in later years in local and other elections.)
IdeologyLiberal conservatism
Reformism
Christian democracy
Political positionCentre-right
International affiliationIberian links to UCD, ‘Mesa Iberoamericana de Partidos Democráticos’ (only PSD and CDS, 8–11 November 1979, little de facto existence)[1] and 'Reunión Iberoamericana de Partidos de Centro Derecha' (9 November 1979 to 1981, little de facto existence)[2][3]
ColoursBlue, Orange
Party flag
Flag of the Democratic Alliance
AD - Democratic Alliance, mural painting
Vote AD - The Right Majority, mural painting

The coalition was also revived in the Azores only to contest the 2022 elections. The coalition won two seats. The coalition is expected to also be on the ballot in the next Azorean elections.

History

The alliance was composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM), including also a group of dissidents of the right wing of the Socialist Party (PS) who were disappointed by the previous Soares government, called The Reformers, including José Medeiros Ferreira (who would later rejoin the PS), António Barreto (who remained a more or less centre/rightwing aligned independent) and Francisco Sousa Tavares (who joined the Social Democratic Party afterwards). The coalition was first formed in 1979 in order to run to the December 1979 legislative election. The alliance was led by Francisco Sá Carneiro and Freitas do Amaral, and won the 1979 and 1980 legislative elections, which led to Sá Carneiro becoming Prime Minister of Portugal, but lost the presidential election of 1980 to the independent candidate António Ramalho Eanes.

After the death of Sá Carneiro on 4 December 1980, the coalition was unable to find a leader with his charisma. Francisco Pinto Balsemão, the incoming PSD leader, became Prime Minister, but was unable to consolidate the support enjoyed by his predecessor. After its defeat in the municipal elections of 1982, it was disbanded in 1983.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa led an attempt to establish a new Democratic Alliance in 1998, between the PSD and the People's Party (CDS–PP; the former CDS), led by Paulo Portas. It contested the 2004 European elections as Força Portugal, but was subsequently dissolved. However, both the PSD and CDS–PP later agreed to contest the 2014 European elections under a joint list called the Portugal Alliance.

The Democratic Alliance was revived in the Azores only to contest the 2022 elections. The coalition polled second with 34% of the votes and elected 2 MPs to Parliament.[4]

Members of the Democratic Alliance

Leaders

Election results

Assembly of the Republic

Between 1979 and 1983

Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/− Government
1979 Francisco Sá Carneiro 2,719,208 45.3 (#1)
128 / 250
 New Majority
1980 2,868,076 47.6 (#1)
134 / 250
 Increase6 Majority

After 1983 (only in Azores)

Election Leader Votes  % Seats Government
2022 Paulo Alexandre 28,330 33.9 (#2)
2 / 6
 Opposition

2024 Azores regional election
Election Leader Votes  % Seats Government
2024 José Manuel Bolieiro TBD TBD
0 / 57
 TBD

Local elections

Between 1979 and 1983

Election Votes  % Councillors +/- Mayors +/- Assemblies +/- Parishes +/-
1979 1,044,642 23.5 (#2)
426 / 1,900
 New
73 / 305
 New
2,122 / 9,703
 New
9,785 / 40,110
 New
1982 988,347 19.9 (#3)
322 / 1,909
 Decrease104
49 / 305
 Decrease24
1,625 / 9,897
 Decrease497
7,684 / 41,636
 Decrease2101

After 1983 (Only in contests where PSD, CDS-PP and PPM ran in a joint coalition.)

Election Votes  % Councillors +/- Mayors +/- Assemblies +/- Parishes +/-
1989 193,161 3.9 (#5)
13 / 2,002
 New
1 / 305
 New
41 / 6,753
 New
403 / 33,000
 New
2001 67,094 1.3 (#9)
10 / 2,044
 Decrease3
1 / 308
 Steady0
40 / 6,876
 Decrease1
302 / 34,569
 Decrease101
2005 91,455 1.7 (#8)
20 / 2,046
 Increase10
1 / 308
 Steady0
73 / 6,885
 Increase33
400 / 34,498
 Increase98
2009 99,811 1.8 (#9)
17 / 2,078
 Decrease3
1 / 308
 Steady0
60 / 6,946
 Decrease13
405 / 34,672
 Increase5
2013 94,015 1.9 (#9)
21 / 2,086
 Increase4
2 / 308
 Increase1
72 / 6,487
 Increase12
453 / 27,167
 Increase48
2017 75,192 1.5 (#9)
15 / 2,074
 Decrease6
2 / 308
 Steady0
42 / 6,461
 Decrease30
250 / 27,005
 Decrease203
2021 70,904 1.4 (#11)
32 / 2,064
 Increase15
3 / 308
 Increase1
96 / 6,448
 Increase54
412 / 26,790
 Increase162

Presidential elections
Election Candidate 1st round
Votes  %
1980 António Soares Carneiro 2,325,481 40.2 (#2)
2016 Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa 2,413,956 52.0 (#1)

References
    1. The Christian Democrat International, Roberto Papini, collection "Religious forces in the modern political world", Rowman and Littlefield, 1997, p. 201
    2. Entre los Autoritarismos de Castro y Pinochet – LA CUMBRE CENTRISTA EN MADRID PUEDE ABRIR UNA TERCERA VIA POLITICA PARA IBEROAMERICA, Pedro J. Ramirez, ABC de Madrid, 10 November 1979
    3. OREJA INAUGURA LA CUMBRE DE CENTRISTAS IBEROAMERICANOS, 10 November 1979
    4. "Resultados Globais". Ministry of Internal Administration (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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