The Portuguese Communist Party and the Portuguese Democratic Movement, united in the United People Alliance, lost one percentage point in comparison with the election of 1982 and lost 8 mayors, gathering only 47 presidencies.

However, despite only a small drop in share of the vote, in the elections to Municipal Assemblies, the coalition lost almost 700 assembly members, decreasing its representation to 1062 members due to the overall reduction of mandates.

The newly founded Democratic Renewal Party, achieved almost 5 percent of the voting and the presidency of 3 municipalities.

Turnout in these elections fell more than eight points compared with 1982, with 63 percent of voters casting a ballot.

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.