It was one of the surprises of election night: Chega was the party with the most votes in the Algarve, surpassing both the PS and the Democratic Alliance (AD). The victory, although not too loose, was still indisputable – with 4 thousand more votes than the PS, Chega won essentially in the tourist and most populous municipalities, from Portimão to Olhão, passing through Lagoa, Albufeira, Silves and Loulé .
The growth of André Ventura's party in the region was impressive. Compared to the last Legislatures, in 2022, Chega grew from 23.998 votes (12,30%) to 62.228 (27,19%).
From one deputy – Pedro Pinto – it became three: Pedro Pinto, João Graça, leader of the District, and Sandra Ribeiro. As many as managed to elect the PS and the Democratic Alliance.
Chega won in six of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve: Portimão, Lagoa, Albufeira, Silves, Loulé and Olhão.
In Silves, where the CDU governs the municipality, the numbers are impressive and seem to support the idea that Chega's votes were also anchored in many former left-wing voters.
Chega had 29,97% of the votes, winning in five of the six parishes (only São Marcos da Serra, further inland, gave victory to the PS). The CDU, in the municipality of Silves, came in 4th place, with just 5,96% of the votes, behind Chega, PS and Aliança Democrática.
But the municipality that gave the most significant vote to the far-right party turned out to be Albufeira. In the tourism capital, Chega had 32,61%, equivalent to 6774 votes. What justifies the result? Immigration?
The Democratic Alliance, which even had Cristiano Cabrita, vice-president of the Albufeira Chamber, in an eligible position, came in 2nd place, but far from Chega: 23,85% (4955 votes).
The PS came in 3rd, with 20,76%.
Analyzing the results, the blue stain that covered a large part of the Algarve coastline is impressive. It was there, in these municipalities, that Chega grew the most – and the case of Loulé is just another example.
Land of one of the strongest PSD councils in the region and with a socialist Chamber since 2013, Loulé voters gave Chega the victory, with 27,58% of the votes. In parishes such as Quarteira, Almancil and Boliqueime (land of Cavaco Silva) André Ventura's party received the most votes. The PS came in 3rd, behind the AD.
Different case happened in Faro. In the capital of the Algarve, Chega finished third (21,50%), behind both PS (27,37%) and AD (24,47%).
Even so, during election night, André Ventura's party came to the forefront, largely due to votes such as the Union of Parishes of Conceição and Estoi.
Even in municipalities where it did not win, Chega was still close to achieving it: these were the cases of São Brás de Alportel (PS had 25,93% and Chega 24.51%), Castro Marim (PS had 30,68 % and Chega 29,25%) or Lagos (25.84% for PS and 24.50 for Chega).
There is another fact to remember from these elections.
The fact is that, despite having won at national level – albeit by a slight advantage -, the Democratic Alliance did not win in any Algarve municipality. The one where it was closest was Loulé and also Monchique (where PS won).
Furthermore, yesterday's Legislatures seem to outline two Algarves: a touristic, coastal and more populous one, which voted Chega, and an interior one that gave victory to the PS (Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, Castro Marim, Faro, Lagos, Monchique, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira, Vila do Bispo and Vila Real de Santo António).
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