Government and politics in Cávado (Norte, Portugal): official figures
In the local elections of 12 October 2025 the 6 municipal council presidencies in the Cávado were won as follows: 3 by the PSD alone, 1 by PSD/CDS-PP coalitions, 1 by other parties and coalitions, 1 by independent citizens’ lists.
How many municipalities are there in The Cávado?
The Cávado has 6 municipalities and 170 civil parishes; voters there elected 48 municipal councillors in 2025.
Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copyWhat was the turnout in the local elections in The Cávado?
67.7% of registered voters in the Cávado cast a ballot in the 2025 local elections, against 59.3% nationally; that is 3rd highest of 26 among Portugal’s NUTS 3 sub-regions.
Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copyHow did The Cávado vote in the 2025 Portuguese election?
In the 18 May 2025 general election, voters in the Cávado gave the PSD/CDS-PP alliance (AD) the most votes (37.1%); turnout was 70.4% against 58.2% nationally.
Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copyMore figures
- Counting each party or coalition label separately, the list with the most votes across the Cávado in the 2025 council elections was the PSD/CDS-PP alliance (AD), with 16.9%. Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copy
- Of valid votes cast in the Cávado in the 2025 general election, 38.1% went to the centre-right AD lists, 20.5% to the PS and 23.6% to Chega (national: 33.2%, 23.8% and 23.7%). Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copy
- The PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition came first in the Cávado in the June 2024 European Parliament election with 37.4%, on a turnout of 44.7% (36.5% nationally). Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal) · saved copy
How Cávado compares with other intermunicipal communities in Portugal
Turnout in the 2025 municipal (câmara) elections (%) (2025)
Cávado ranks 3 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Turnout in the 2025 municipal (câmara) elections (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tâmega e Sousa | 71.0% |
| 2 | Ave | 69.0% |
| 3 | Cávado | 67.7% |
| 4 | Baixo Alentejo | 67.2% |
| 5 | Douro | 66.9% |
| 6 | Beiras e Serra da Estrela | 66.0% |
| 7 | Beira Baixa | 65.9% |
Turnout in the May 2025 general election (%) (2025)
Cávado ranks 1 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Turnout in the May 2025 general election (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cávado | 70.4% |
| 2 | Ave | 69.1% |
| 3 | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 69.0% |
| 4 | Grande Lisboa | 66.5% |
| 5 | Tâmega e Sousa | 66.2% |
| 6 | Médio Tejo | 65.5% |
| 7 | Oeste | 65.4% |
Chega share of valid votes, May 2025 general election (%) (2025)
Cávado ranks 13 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Chega share of valid votes, May 2025 general election (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Alentejo Central | 25.4% |
| 11 | Região Autónoma dos Açores | 23.8% |
| 12 | Alto Minho | 23.6% |
| 13 | Cávado | 23.6% |
| 14 | Viseu Dão Lafões | 23.2% |
| 15 | Região de Leiria | 22.9% |
| 16 | Região de Aveiro | 22.5% |
More on Cávado: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Norte · Portugal
Sources
- INE, Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (Statistics Portugal): Anuarios Estatisticos Regionais 2024 (Regional Statistical Yearbooks, 2025 release): all subchapter tables in XLSX by municipality, NUTS 3 and NUTS 2, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36f716bda712…)
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