2016 Portuguese presidential election

Aníbal Cavaco Silva had served two consecutive five-year terms as president, the maximum number, and the 2016 election was to choose a successor for a term beginning on March 9. In Portugal, the president is the head of state, has mostly ceremonial powers. However, the president does have some political influence and can dissolve the Parliament of Portugal if a crisis occurs. The president also has an official residence in the Belém Palace in Lisbon. By the end of his 10 years in office, Cavaco Silva became very unpopular according to polling. ==Electoral system==

In order to stand for election, candidates must be of Portuguese origin and over 35 years old, gather 7,500 signatures of support one month before the election, and submit them to the Constitutional Court of Portugal. Under Portuguese law, a candidate must receive a majority of votes (50% plus one vote) to be elected. If no candidate achieved a majority in the first round, a runoff election (i.e., second round, held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round) would have been held on February 14. ==Candidates==

Official candidates On 29 December 2015 the Constitutional Court certified a record ten candidates as having met the requirements to appear on the ballot. This remains the highest numbers of candidates in a Presidential ballot in Portuguese democracy; previously, the highest number of presidential candidates had been six. • Manuel Almeida, independent. • Paulo Freitas do Amaral, university professor, former president of the parish of Cruz Quebrada; withdrew and supported Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. • Orlando Cruz, withdrew in favour of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. • Graça Castanho, withdrew due to having lost her nomination signatures in a storm. • Castanheira Barros, independent candidate, former member of the Social Democratic Party; withdrew and supported Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. • Manuela Gonzaga, historian and writer; was supported by the People–Animals–Nature. Decided not to run • Fernando Nobre – Independent candidate which had contested the previous presidential election. • António Vitorino – former European Commissioner (1999–2004). • António Capucho – former Mayor of Cascais (2001–2011). • Paulo Portas – former leader of the CDS – People's Party (1998–2005, 2007–2016), former Minister of National Defence (2002–2005) and of Foreign Affairs (2011–2013) and also former Deputy Prime Minister (2013–2015). • Manuela Ferreira Leite – former leader of the Social Democratic Party (2008–2010). • António Guterres – former Prime Minister (1995–2002). • Manuel Carvalho da Silva – former union leader of CGTP (1986–2012). • Pedro Santana Lopes – former Prime Minister (2004–2005). • Rui Rio – former mayor of Porto (2002–2013). • Alberto João Jardim – former President of the Regional Government of Madeira (1978-2015). ==Campaign period==

Candidates' slogans Candidates' debates There were several number of debates between all the candidates in the three TV networks RTP, SIC, TVI. There was a radio debate between all candidates plus on January 19, there was a final debate between all of candidates on RTP1. Completed televised debates: ==Opinion polling==

The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas. ==Results==

National summary Results by district Maps File:Eleições presidenciais 2016.PNG|Strongest candidate by electoral district. File:Mapa dos resultados da eleição presidencial de Portugal em 2016.png|Strongest candidate by municipality: Marcelo - orange; Nóvoa - magenta; Edgar Silva - red. ==See also==