[citation needed] After the Carnation Revolution and the 1976 Portuguese legislative election, the Socialist Party formed two governments (the second in coalition with CDS – People's Party) that failed to reach the end of their term.

[3] President António Ramalho Eanes would then nominate various governments, the second of which was led by Carlos Mota Pinto.

[3] Mota Pinto was supported by some members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), but their leader at the time, Francisco de Sá Carneiro, did not allow PSD to formally support Mota Pinto and would later cut ties with PS and go on to form the Democratic Alliance (AD).

[3] The PSD members that were not satisfied with Sá Carneiro's decision to go forward with this right-wing coalition would, in January 1978, leave and form the Independent Social Democratic Action (ASDI).

[4] These two forces, together with PS, would form a coalition in August 1980[1] that was legally recognized on 10 June 1980.