[4] The Socialists' main opponent, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), made significant gains by winning almost 34 percent of the votes and 21 seats, two more than in 2016.

The Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) was wiped out from the regional parliament by losing their sole member, elected in 2016, and polling just 1.7 percent of the votes.

[12] Despite this announcement, there were divisions in CHEGA as the party's national leader, André Ventura, said no deal had been made with the Social Democrats and that the order was to not support the PSD led coalition.

Thus the government would be formed by a coalition of PSD, CDS-PP and PPM (26 MPs) with parliamentary support of CHEGA (2) and IL (1), totalizing a majority of 29 out of 57 seats in the parliament.

After the defeat of the PSD in the 2016 regional election, then party leader Duarte Freitas remained in office until resigning in July 2018, for personal reasons.

[19] One year later, in October 2019, Gaudêncio announced his resignation, in the aftermath of a Judiciary Police investigation into suspected irregularities in public contracts and urban development while as mayor of Ribeira Grande.

[20] A leadership ballot was called for 14 December 2019 and only one candidate presented himself: José Manuel Bolieiro, by then the incumbent mayor of Ponta Delgada.

Current distribution of MPs by constituency: The table below lists parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of the Azores in the term between 2016 and 2020.

[59] Bolieiro tried to present a second budget, but after meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, he dropped the idea and asked for early elections.