LISBON, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Friday that the 2019 legislative elections will be held on Oct. 6 and the elections for the Madeira Regional Assembly on Sept. 22 next year.
Rebelo de Sousa decided the dates of these elections after hearing the political parties with parliamentary seats on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.
On Nov. 2 in Funchal, capital of the Madeira autonomous region of Portugal, the president heard the parties represented in the Regional Legislative Assembly of Madeira on the date of the regional elections.
According to the respective electoral laws, the elections for the regional parliament of Madeira take place between Sept. 22 and Oct. 14, while the elections for the Assembly of the Republic are held between Sept. 14 and Oct. 14.
Both electoral acts shall be marked by the head of state "at least 60 days in advance or, in case of dissolution of their respective parliaments, at least 55 days in advance" and shall "recur on Sunday or on a holiday."
The ruling Socialist government headed by Prime Minister Antonio Costa took power in November 2015 with the support of Portuguese Communist Party and Left Bloc.
