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1961 Portuguese National Assembly election
130 seats to the National Assembly; 65 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister before election; António de Oliveira Salazar; UN	Prime Minister after election ; António de Oliveira Salazar; UN

Parliamentary elections were held in Portugal on 12 November 1961.^[1] The ruling National Union won all 130 seats unopposed.^[2]

Electoral system

The number of seats in the National Assembly was increased from 120 to 130 prior to the elections.^[3] The number of seats for Angola and Mozambique was increased from four each to seven each, whilst Portuguese India and Cape Verde each gained a seat, taking their totals to three and two respectively.^[3] Mainland Portugal also gained two seats.^[3]

Following the granting of Portuguese citizenship to the indigenous inhabitants of Angola and Mozambique, they were entitled to vote for the first time as long as they were literate, held a job in a recognised profession, or were taxpayers.^[3]

Campaign

A total of 25 opposition candidates registered to run in the elections on 12 lists.^[2]^[4] They officially withdrew their candidacies on 7 November, protesting against the government's failure to allow "free and clean elections".^[2] The Monarchist list was rejected in Lisbon after arriving to hand in their list a minute late.^[4]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats

National Union		100	130
Invalid/blank votes		–	–
Total	973,997	100	130
Registered voters/turnout	1,315,231	74.0	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1542 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
^ ^a ^b ^c "No Opposition In Portuguese Election "Discrimination By Government"" The Times, 8 November 1961, p11, Issue 55233
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Portugal To Vote On Nov. 12 Salazar Opponents Prepare Lists" The Times, 3 October 1961, p11, Issue 55202
^ ^a ^b "New Candidates In Portugal" The Times, 16 October 1961, p11, Issue 55213