Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 1979)

The Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democrática, AD) was a centre-right political alliance, in Portugal composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM). It existed between 1979 and 1983, and was refounded for the 2024 legislative election. After its first official dissolution, the coalition was continued to operated in local elections after 1989 and presented lists across the country in every single local election after 2001.

In the first creation, the alliance was composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM), including also a group of dissidents of the right wing of the Socialist Party (PS) who were disappointed by the previous Soares government, called The Reformers, including José Medeiros Ferreira (who would later rejoin the PS), António Barreto (who remained a more or less centre/rightwing aligned independent) and Francisco Sousa Tavares (who joined the Social Democratic Party afterwards). The coalition was first formed in 1979 in order to run to the December 1979 legislative election.

The alliance was led by Francisco Sá Carneiro and Freitas do Amaral, and won the 1979 and 1980 legislative elections, which led to Sá Carneiro becoming Prime Minister of Portugal, but lost the presidential election of 1980 to the independent candidate António Ramalho Eanes.

After the death of Sá Carneiro on 4 December 1980, the coalition was unable to find a leader with his charisma. Francisco Pinto Balsemão, the incoming PSD leader, became Prime Minister, but was unable to consolidate the support enjoyed by his predecessor. After its defeat in the 1982 local elections, it was disbanded in 1983.

The name was revived for a similar alliance between the PSD, CDS-PP, and PPM ahead of the 2024 legislative election.

Members of the Democratic Alliance

 * Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD)
 * Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)
 * People's Monarchist Party (PPM)
 * The Reformers

Leaders

 * Francisco Sá Carneiro : 1979 – 1980
 * Diogo Freitas do Amaral (interim) : 1980 – 1981
 * Francisco Pinto Balsemão : 1981 – 1983

Local elections
Between 1979 and 1983

Second Democratic Alliance
After the 2022 legislative election and for the first time in history, CDS–PP failed to win any seats and was wiped out of parliament. In December 2023, Luís Montenegro and Nuno Melo announced a coalition for the 2024 legislative and European Parliament elections, including the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD), the CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) and some independent politicians under the name Democratic Alliance (AD). At first, the People's Monarchist Party (PPM) refused to join the alliance, citing the "weakness" and "lack of vision" of its leaders, but they later went back with their position and joined the coalition. The agreement for the coalition was signed on 7 January 2024 between Luís Montenegro, Nuno Melo and Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira, with Miguel Guimarães representing the independents that are also present in the coalition.

This coalition granted CDS–PP two easily eligible seats and four potentially eligible seats, while it also granted one possibly eligible seat to the PPM, basically ensuring that the CDS–PP will be returning to Parliament after the 2024 election. The coalition was also revived for the 2024 Azorean regional election.

Local elections
After 1983 (Only in contests where PSD, CDS-PP and PPM ran in a joint coalition.)