This right wing coalition did, however, lose some voting in relation to the previous election.

The left-wing United People Alliance dominated the election in the municipalities of the South of the country, gathering more than 60 percent of the votes and achieving its best result ever with 20.7 percent and 55 mayors.

Despite the victory of the Democratic Alliance, the then PSD leader and Prime Minister Francisco Pinto Balsemão considered the results a disappointment, citting divisions with his own party and the alliance, and resigned from both posts.

[7] This decision led to a snap general election in April 1983.

The main political forces involved in the election were: The following table lists party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants.