After 6 years in power governing without an absolute majority and adding to this a bad economy, the PS hopes of maintaining the largest number of mayors were slashed.

The defeat was worse than expected because of loses in the main cities of Lisbon and Porto, where polls showed the PS with a solid lead.

The People's Party also had a poor showing losing 5 cities, although this time they celebrated more coalitions with the PSD.

The main political forces involved in the election were: 1 The PSD and the CDS–PP formed coalitions in several municipalities.

The following table lists party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants.