View source for Left Bloc

{{Short description|Portuguese political party}}
{{About|the political party in Portugal|3=Left Bloc (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Left Bloc
| native_name      = Bloco de Esquerda
| native_name_lang = pt
| logo             = LeftBloc.svg
| abbreviation     = BE
| founders         = [[Francisco Louçã]]<br>[[Luís Fazenda]]<br>[[Miguel Portas]]<br>[[Fernando Rosas]]
| leader1_title    = Coordinator of the Political Commission
| leader1_name     = [[Mariana Mortágua]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariana Mortágua: De braço direito de Catarina Martins a líder do Bloco de Esquerda|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/mundo/mariana-mortagua-de-braco-direito-de-catarina-martins-a-lider-do-bloco-de-esquerda_n1489250|date=28 May 2023|access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref>
| foundation       = {{start date|1999|02|28|df=y}}
| membership_year  = 2022
| membership       = {{Circa}} 10,000<ref name="membership">{{cite news|access-date=10 February 2025 |archive-date=2025-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210215834/https://observador.pt/especiais/psd-e-o-maior-partido-mas-ps-no-poder-consegue-encurtar-distancias-chega-e-pan-ocultam-numero-de-militantes/ |date=16 July 2022 |journal=Observador |title=PSD é o maior partido, mas PS no poder consegue encurtar distâncias. Chega e PAN ocultam número de militantes |url=https://observador.pt/especiais/psd-e-o-maior-partido-mas-ps-no-poder-consegue-encurtar-distancias-chega-e-pan-ocultam-numero-de-militantes/}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
| youth_wing       = Jovens do Bloco<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloco.org/jovens/not%C3%ADcias/item/3377-resultados-da-vii-confer%C3%AAncia-de-jovens-do-bloco-de-esquerda.html|title=Bloco de Esquerda - Resultados da VII Conferência de Jovens do Bloco de Esquerda|website=www.bloco.org}}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Democratic socialism]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xF3FBQAAQBAJ&q=democratic+socialist+Left+Bloc&pg=PA1801|title=Radical left parties in Europe|page=1801|first=Luke|last=March|publisher=Routledge|date=December 2011|isbn=9781136578977}}</ref><ref name="radleft">{{cite web|url=http://global-politics.co.uk/wp/2015/02/11/where-is-portugals-radical-left/|title=Where is Portugal's Radical Left? – Global Politics|date=11 February 2015|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref>}}
 |[[Left-wing populism]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://progressivepost.eu/wp-content/uploads/Populism-Report-Q3-2018.pdf|title=Populism Report Q3 2018|publisher=Foundation for European Progressive Studies|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101204/https://progressivepost.eu/wp-content/uploads/Populism-Report-Q3-2018.pdf|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4d36d9cc-bd0f-11e9-b350-db00d509634e |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/4d36d9cc-bd0f-11e9-b350-db00d509634e |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Portugal's bright outlook offers Europe some hope|quote=The alliance between Mr Costa's Socialist Party (PS) and further left groups such as the anti-establishment Left Bloc was considered tenuous when it was forged in 2015.|work=Financial Times|date=25 August 2019}}</ref>}}
 |[[Anti-capitalism]]{{refn|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />}}
 |[[Euroscepticism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroviews.eu/2014/03/31/country-profile-portugal/|title=Country profile – Portugal - Euroviews 2014|website=www.euroviews.eu|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230164748/http://www.euroviews.eu/2014/03/31/country-profile-portugal/|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| position         = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref name="left-wing">{{bulleted list|{{cite web|language=fr|title=Risque pays du Portugal : Politique|url=https://import-export.societegenerale.fr/fr/fiche-pays/portugal/le-risque-pays-politique?accepter_cookies=oui|website=Société Générale|access-date=11 May 2019|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181753/https://import-export.societegenerale.fr/fr/fiche-pays/portugal/le-risque-pays-politique?accepter_cookies=oui|url-status=dead}}
|{{cite web|language=fr|title=Portugal - Political Parties - Elections|url=http://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMElection?codePays=PRT&dateElection=PRT2015104&codeInstitution=1|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca|access-date=11 May 2019}}
{{cite web|language=fr|title=Portugal : la coalition de droite conserve le pouvoir|url=http://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/servlet/BMAnalyse?codeAnalyse=2009|website=perspective.usherbrooke.ca|quote=Deux autres partis de " gauche " étaient en lice pour les élections. Premièrement, le Bloc de gauche, considéré par le journal The Guardian comme étant une version portugaise du parti politique grec anti-austérité Syriza, a récolté 10,2% des suffrages (8).|date=26 October 2015|access-date=11 May 2019}}|{{cite web|language=fr|title=Portugal, Le paysage politique|url=http://www.bibliomonde.com/donnee/portugal-paysage-politique-184.html|website=BiblioMonde|access-date=2018-12-11|quote=BE, le Bloc des gauches (Bloco da Esquerda) : formation regroupant l’extrême gauche portugaise depuis 1999. Influente dans les milieux intellectuels de la capitale, BE a obtenu 2,7% des voix et 3 députés en mars 2002 (soit un siège de plus qu’en 1999). BE comprend notamment l'Union démocratique populaire (União Democràtica Popular), le Parti socialiste révolutionnaire (Partido Socialista Revolucionario ) et Politica XXI.|archive-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115083822/http://www.bibliomonde.com/donnee/portugal-paysage-politique-184.html|url-status=dead}}.
|{{cite web|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-election-poll-idUKKCN1UQ19F|title=When the Socialists came to power in 2015, they won the parliamentary support of two left wing parties, the Left Bloc and the Communists.|work=Reuters|date=31 July 2019|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802091518/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-election-poll-idUKKCN1UQ19F|url-status=dead}}}}</ref> to [[Far-left politics|far-left]]<ref name="far-left">{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=http://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/19/left-bloc-be/|title=Left Bloc (BE)|website=The Democratic Society|date=19 May 2014|quote=The Left Bloc is the more socially libertarian, and bohemian of Portugal's two '''far-left''' structures.|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528170909/https://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/19/left-bloc-be/|archive-date=28 May 2019|url-status=dead}}
|{{Cite book |first=Carlos |last=Cunha |chapter=Few but Pure and Good Members are Preferred to a Mass Party – The Portuguese Communist Party's Continued Orthodoxy |series=Hannah Arendt Institute Research on Totalitarianism|title=Communist and Post-Communist Parties in Europe |year=2008 |pages=193–214 |url=https://www.vr-elibrary.de/doi/10.13109/9783666369124.193|access-date=16 March 2024 |isbn=978-3525369128|publisher=[[Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht]]|doi=10.13109/9783666369124.193 }}
|{{cite book |title=Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe |last=March |first=Luke |year=2008 |page=4 |publisher=Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-86872-000-6 |url=http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf }}
|{{cite web|language=en|title=As Europe left struggles, Portugal's alliance wins over voters and Brussels|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-politics/as-europe-left-struggles-portugals-alliance-wins-over-voters-and-brussels-idUSKBN1721LF|website=reuters.com|access-date=11 May 2019|date=31 March 2017|quote=The unlikely alliance of center-left Socialists and two '''far-left''' parties has overcome deep scepticism since it was formed in 2015, achieving stability and maintaining economic recovery at a time of political uncertainty across Europe.}}
|{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/11/portugal-pm-says-open-to-new-alliance-with-far-left|title=Portugal PM says open to new alliance with far left|publisher=Euronews|date=11 July 2019}}}}</ref>
| merger           = {{ubl|[[People's Democratic Union (Portugal)|UDP]]|[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (Portugal)|PSR]]|[[Politics XXI]]}}
| headquarters     = Rua da Palma, 268<br />1100-394 [[Lisbon]]
| newspaper        = ''Esquerda''
| international    = [[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Organizations {{!}} Fourth International|url=https://fourth.international/en/organisations|website=[[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]]|access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref>
| european         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|[[European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet|ELA]] |[[Now the People|NTP]]}}
| europarl         = [[The Left in the European Parliament]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bloco de Esquerda - GUE/NGL - Another Europe is possible|url=http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegation/bloco-de-esquerda|publisher=GUE/NGL|access-date=31 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101063647/http://www.guengl.eu/group/delegation/bloco-de-esquerda|archive-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| colours          = {{ublist
 | {{Color box|#FF0000}} Red (official)
 | {{Color box|{{Political party data|color}}}} Maroon (customary)
}}
| logo_size        = 100
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q884840 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats3_title     = [[Autonomous regions of Portugal|Regional Parliaments]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|1|104|hex={{Political party data|color}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[List of municipalities of Portugal|Local government<br>(Mayors)]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|0|308|hex={{Political party data|color}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Freguesia|Local government<br>(Parishes)]]
| seats5           = {{composition bar|0|3216|hex={{Political party data|color}}}}
| flag             = [[File:Flag of the Left Bloc.svg|200px|border|Flag of the Left Bloc]]
| symbol           = [[File:Bloco de Esquerda (Símbolo Eleitoral).png|60px]]
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Portugal
}}

The '''Left Bloc''' ({{langx|pt|Bloco de Esquerda}} {{IPA|pt|ˈblɔku ðɨ ɨʃˈkeɾðɐ|}}, '''BE'''),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Composição dos Grupos Parlamentares/Partidos|url=https://www.parlamento.pt/DeputadoGP/Paginas/GruposParlamentaresI.aspx|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.parlamento.pt}}</ref> colloquially shortened as '''O Bloco''', is a [[List of political parties in Portugal|political party]] in [[Portugal]]. A [[Left-wing populism|left-wing populist]] and [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] party, it has been described as [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]<ref name="left-wing"/> to [[Far-left politics|far-left]].<ref name="far-left"/> It is currently led by [[Mariana Mortágua]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Silva, E.C. & Lameiras, M.. Breve história do Bloco de Esquerda. Público / 100Folhas. ISBN 9789895451517|url=http://hdl.handle.net/1822/63093|website=Repositório UM|date=2019|hdl=1822/63093 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Formation and early history ===
[[File:Lisboa 2012 B289 (7756185426).jpg|thumb|left|Pro-Left Bloc [[graffiti]] on the façade of a vacant house in Rato, Lisbon]]
The Left Bloc was formed in 1999 by the merger of the [[Marxism|Marxist]] [[People's Democratic Union (Portugal)|People's Democratic Union]], [[Trotskyism|Trotskyist]] [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (Portugal)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], and the [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] [[Politics XXI]].<ref name="essa3">{{cite web|url=http://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/docs/round6/survey/ESS6_appendix_a3_e01_1.pdf|title=European Social Survey 2012 - Appendix 3 (in English)|publisher=[[European Science Foundation]]|date=1 January 2014|access-date=6 May 2014}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It has had full party status since its founding, yet the constituent groups have maintained their existence as individual political associations, retaining some levels of autonomy in a loose structure. In the [[1999 Portuguese legislative election|1999 legislative election]] the BE polled at 2%. In [[2002 Portuguese legislative election|2002]] this rose to 3%.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

=== Louçã's leadership (1999–2012) ===
In the [[1999 Portuguese legislative election|1999 election]] BE received 2.4% of the votes leading them to enter the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]] for the first time with 2 [[Members of Parliament|MP]]s for the Lisbon constituency. These representatives were Francisco Louçã and Fernando Rosas. In the [[2005 Portuguese legislative election|2005 election]] BE received 6.5% of the votes winning them 8 [[Members of Parliament|MP]]s. In the [[2006 Portuguese presidential election|2006 presidential elections]], the Left Bloc's candidate, [[Francisco Louçã]], received 288,224 votes (5.31%).{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In the [[2009 European Parliament election in Portugal|2009 European Parliament election]] they received 10.73% winning them 3 [[European Parliament|MEPs]]. They also surpassed the [[Unitary Democratic Coalition|CDU]] for the first time in an election. At the subsequent [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|2009 national election]], the party obtained 9.81% of votes and 16 members of parliament in the 230-seat [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]].

The [[2010–14 Portuguese financial crisis|financial crisis]] led socialist prime minister [[José Sócrates|Sócrates]] to agree to a [[Economic Adjustment Programme for Portugal|bailout memorandum]] with the [[Eurogroup]]. In the subsequent [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|2011 snap election]], the country saw a massive shift to the right, with the Left Bloc losing nearly half of its previous popular support, obtaining only 5.17% of the vote and 8 members of parliament. This defeat is generally attributed to the partial support certain sections of the party appeared to offer the unpopular Socialist government while the latter pursued an [[austerity]] program in response to the [[financial crisis]].{{Citation needed|reason="this is probably an expression of a viewpoint, not 'generally' accepted"|date=June 2013}}

=== Martins' leadership (2012–2023) ===
The historical merger of ideologies that gave rise to the Portuguese Left Bloc was a process that lasted sixteen years. Its main actors aged and times changed, which led to an awareness of the need for modernization and realism. [[Francisco Louçã]] is one of the founders who most insisted on restricting theory to the basic [[humanistic]] and [[ethical]] principles common to partisans and supporters in order to conquer a wider range of constituencies. The game would necessarily be played in the framework of [[democracy]], active [[participation (decision making)|participation]] and defence of [[human rights]]. After thirteen years of intensive labor as a leader, Louçã quit the position of party chairman in 2012 arguing that "it is time for renewal" and delegating his functions to a man and a woman.<ref>[http://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/interior/francisco-louca-despedese-da-lideranca-do-bloco-de-esquerda-2725241.html Francisco ''Louçã deixa liderança do Bloco ao fim de 13 anos''] - News TSF, 18 August 2012</ref> [[Catarina Martins]], 39 years old, and [[João Semedo]], a veteran, would be elected co-coordinators of the party on 11 November 2012. However, the renewal process would last for over one year.<ref>[http://links.org.au/node/4195 Portugal: Left Bloc in struggle to regain unity after convention] at [http://links.org.au/ Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal], 13 December 2014</ref>[[File:Arruada Morais Soares, Lisboa, Set.2021 (51683595816).jpg|left|thumb|[[Catarina Martins]] and [[Mariana Mortágua]] during a demonstration in the campaign for the [[2021 Portuguese local elections|2021 local elections]].]]In early 2014, the Left Bloc suffered a split, when elected Left Bloc MEP [[Rui Tavares]], who already in 2011 had become an [[independent politician|independent]], founded left-ecologist [[LIVRE]] party. Left-wing intellectuals who had come together to the Manifesto 3D collective challenged the Left Bloc to converge with LIVRE towards a joined list in the upcoming [[2014 European Parliament election in Portugal|2014 European election]]. Two official meetings in late 2014 and early 2015 however failed with the Left Bloc referring to programmatic differences with Tavares.<ref>{{cite web |author=Frederico Pinheiro |title=Out of the Trap |work=[[Rosa Luxemburg Foundation|Luxemburg Online]] |url=http://www.zeitschrift-luxemburg.de/out-of-the-trap-2/ |date=April 2014 |access-date=12 November 2015}}</ref> So while the severe [[austerity]] programs under prime minister [[Pedro Passos Coelho|Passos Coelho]] did backdrop on the Portuguese political right, the European election in May saw the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialists]] and liberal [[Earth Party]] as relative winners, whereas the Left Bloc lost more than half of 2009's votes and two of its three mandates. LIVRE received 2.2% but failed to win any mandate.

In the [[2015 Portuguese legislative election|2015 legislative election]], the Left Bloc achieved 10.2% of the votes and elected 19 deputies, their best result in legislative elections ever, in what was considered a major upset.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloco de Esquerda com o seu melhor resultado de sempre |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/eleicoes/legislativas/detalhe/bloco_de_esquerda_perto_do_seu_melhor_resultado_de_sempre |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.jornaldenegocios.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref> On 10 November 2015, Catarina Martins signed an agreement with the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] that is aimed at identifying convergence issues, while also recognizing their differences.<ref>{{cite news |title=Agreement signed between the Socialist Party and the Left Bloc |newspaper=Esquerda |url=http://www.esquerda.net/en/artigo/full-agreement-between-socialist-party-and-left-bloc/39543 |date=6 November 2015 |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref> The Bloc supported the minority Socialist [[XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal|Costa Government]] (2015–2019) with a [[confidence and supply]] agreement. The Socialist Party government would be re-elected in [[2019 Portuguese legislative election|2019]], with the Left Bloc returning to opposition. The party voted against the 2022 budget, triggering [[2022 Portuguese legislative election|an election]] in January of that year. The Left Bloc would lose 14 seats, reducing them to five, and over half of their popular vote from 2019 — tactical voting for the Socialist Party and the Left Bloc's opposition to the budget were blamed. The Socialist Party would be re-elected with a majority government.

=== Mortágua's leadership (2023–present) ===
On 14 February 2023, Catarina Martins announced she would leave the Left Bloc's leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catarina Martins vai deixar liderança do Bloco de Esquerda |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/bloco-de-esquerda/catarina-martins/catarina-martins-nao-se-recandidata-a-lideranca-do-bloco-de-esquerda/20230214/63eb65e60cf2c84d7fc7e1bf |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=CNN Portugal |language=pt}}</ref> In the 13th Convention of the Left Bloc, on 27 and 28 May 2023, [[Mariana Mortágua]], one of the party's most well known deputies, was elected as the party coordinator with 83% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SAPO |title=Mariana Mortágua é a nova coordenadora do Bloco de Esquerda: "Ainda não viram nada da força que sabemos criar, reinventar e unir" |url=https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/mocao-a-vence-e-coloca-mariana-mortagua-como-nova-coordenadora-do-bloco-de-esquerda |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=SAPO 24 |language=pt}}</ref>

After the [[Operation Influencer|resignation of António Costa]], the Left Bloc expected to gain seats and increase their voting share.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eleições: Mortágua traça meta de recuperar deputados perdidos em distritos como Braga |url=https://www.jm-madeira.pt/nacional/eleicoes-mortagua-traca-meta-de-recuperar-deputados-perdidos-em-distritos-como-braga-CJ15583706 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.jm-madeira.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref> Despite that, in the [[2024 Portuguese legislative election|2024 legislative election]], the Left Bloc achieved a very similar result, keeping their five seats.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-11 |title=Entre ser "alternativa" ou "oposição mais combativa": Bloco de Esquerda cresce sem eleger mais e atira contra PS |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/legislativas-2024/2024-03-11-Entre-ser--alternativa-ou-oposicao-mais-combativa-Bloco-de-Esquerda-cresce-sem-eleger-mais-e-atira-contra-PS-1ee631a3 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref> Following that poor result, and in light of [[Luís Montenegro]]'s victory, Mariana Mortágua led negotiations with the remaining parties on the left ([[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]], [[Portuguese Communist Party|PCP]], [[LIVRE]] and [[People Animals Nature|PAN]]) in order to build an alternative to the [[XXIV Constitutional Government of Portugal|incoming right-wing government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunha |first=Mariana Lima |title=Bloco quer "construir uma alternativa" e convida esquerda para reuniões. PS e Livre já aceitaram |url=https://observador.pt/2024/03/12/bloco-quer-construir-uma-alternativa-e-convida-esquerda-para-reunioes-ps-e-livre-ja-aceitaram/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

In January 2025, a scandal broke out when it was revealed that, among other party workers laid off after the poor results of the 2022 election, were two breastfeeding mothers, with Mariana Mortágua apologizing for the mistake of the previous leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=Bloco de Esquerda assume "erros" e "falhas" no despedimento de recém-mães |url=https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/politica/2025-01-23-bloco-de-esquerda-assume-erros-e-falhas-no-despedimento-de-recem-maes-cc5fb01a |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=SIC Notícias |language=pt}}</ref> This sparked outrage, with the members of internal opposition, led by [[Pedro Soares (politician)|Pedro Soares]], resigning from the political commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lusa |date=2025-02-01 |title=Após recusa de inquérito ao caso dos despedimentos, opositores internos demitem-se da Comissão Política do Bloco |url=https://www.publico.pt/2025/02/01/politica/noticia/apos-recusa-inquerito-caso-despedimentos-opositores-internos-demitemse-comissao-politica-bloco-2121009 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=PÚBLICO |language=pt}}</ref>

In the [[2025 Portuguese legislative election|2025 legislative election]], the Left Bloc took inspiration from the results of [[Die Linke]] in [[2025 German federal election|that year's German election]], nominating the party's founders as heads of lists in strategic constituencies ([[Francisco Louçã]] in [[Braga (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Braga]], [[Luís Fazenda]] in [[Aveiro (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Aveiro]] and [[Fernando Rosas]] in [[Leiria (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Leiria]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=BE pondera "Missão Cabelo Grisalho" à portuguesa e quer Louçã, Rosas e Fazenda como cabeças-de-lista |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/legislativas-2025/2025-03-20-be-pondera-missao-cabelo-grisalho-a-portuguesa-e-quer-louca-rosas-e-fazenda-como-cabecas-de-lista-4261be0b |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref> using [[canvassing]] in campaigning for the first time in Portugal<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=“Olá, bom dia! Estamos aqui a apoiar o Bloco”: partido prepara campanha porta-a-porta (e até há guião para os vários tipos de eleitores) |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/legislativas-2025/2025-03-27-ola-bom-dia-estamos-aqui-a-apoiar-o-bloco-partido-prepara-campanha-porta-a-porta--e-ate-ha-guiao-para-os-varios-tipos-de-eleitores--882f19ac |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref> and investing in [[social media]] during the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunha |first=Mariana Lima |title=Louçã a falar como a geração Z e Rosas a abrir kits anti-guerra. Como os fundadores do Bloco estão a entrar na estratégia Tik Tok |url=https://observador.pt/especiais/louca-a-falar-como-a-geracao-z-e-rosas-a-abrir-kits-anti-guerra-como-os-fundadores-do-bloco-estao-a-entrar-na-estrategia-tik-tok/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Observador |language=pt-PT}}</ref> Despite that, the party suffered its worst result ever, winning 2% of the popular vote, its lowest ever, and electing only one member to the Assembly.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Bloco de Esquerda "esvaziou-se" nas suas próprias causas e nem campanha ao estilo "reality show" foi suficiente |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/decisao25/decisao-25/bloco-de-esquerda-esvaziou-se-nas-suas-proprias-causas-e-nem-campanha-ao-estilo-reality-show-foi-suficiente/20250519/682b16d9d34ef72ee4462915 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=CNN Portugal |language=pt}}</ref> The party lost more than half of its 2024 voters, falling to 125,808 total votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-19 |title=A “grande derrota” eleitoral do Bloco deixa Mariana Mortágua como deputada única |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/legislativas-2025/resultados/2025-05-19-a-grande-derrota-eleitoral-do-bloco-deixa-mariana-mortagua-como-deputada-unica-c36278ae |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref>

Following the election, Mortágua became the single deputy from the party. In September 2025, in the run up to [[2025 Portuguese local elections|that year's local elections]], she took part in the [[Global Sumud Flotilla|Freedom Flotilla]], intending to distribute aid to the [[Gaza Strip]], where she was detained by the [[Israel]]i government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neves |first=Inês Chaíça, Sofia |date=2025-10-01 |title=Israel intercepta flotilha humanitária e detém Mariana Mortágua |url=https://www.publico.pt/2025/10/01/mundo/noticia/membros-flotilha-humanitaria-rumo-gaza-denunciam-guerra-psicologica-israel-2149227 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=PÚBLICO |language=pt}}</ref> During this time, she was replaced in parliament by Andreia Galvão.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-25 |title=Andreia Galvão: a ativista que passou a deputada e substitui Mortágua, por 30 dias |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/partidos/2025-09-25-andreia-galvao-a-ativista-que-passou-a-deputada-e-substitui-mortagua-por-30-dias-91bfb44d |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref> In the 2025 local elections the Left Bloc lost three of its four city councillors, electing a single one in Lisbon under the PS/L/BE/PAN coalition and lost almost all of its local representation, despite the many coalitions made between BE, LIVRE and PAN all across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inácio |first=Alexandra |date=2025-10-13 |title=Eleição de eclipse quase total para o Bloco de Esquerda |url=https://www.jn.pt/nacional/artigo/eleicao-de-eclipse-quase-total-para-o-bloco-de-esquerda/18008400 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Jornal de Notícias |language=pt-PT}}</ref>

== Ideology ==
[[File:Campanha Autárquicas 2005 (2800970007).jpg|thumb|[[Francisco Louçã]] and [[Fernando Rosas]] during the campaign for the [[2005 Portuguese local elections|2005 local elections]].]]
The Left Bloc rose to prominence "following a successful [[Anti-austerity movement|anti-austerity campaign]] and its backing by a growing popular social movement."<ref>{{cite news |date= 12 February 2015 |title= Bloco's Anti-Austerity Gamble |url= https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/portugal-left-bloc-catarina-martins-francisco-louca/ |work= Jacobin |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref> It has been described as "Portugal's biggest supporter of [[Feminism|feminist]], [[gay rights]] and [[Anti-racism|anti-racist]] legislation" and been associated with the [[New Left]].<ref name="demsoc">{{cite web|url=http://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/19/left-bloc-be/|title=Left Bloc (BE)|website=The Democratic Society|date=19 May 2014|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528170909/https://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/19/left-bloc-be/|archive-date=28 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> It occupies a flexible and moderate position to the left of the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] (PS).<ref>{{cite web |author=Conn Hallinan |title=Portugal's Democracy Crisis |work=Foreign Policy in Focus |url=http://fpif.org/portugals-democracy-crisis/ |date=5 November 2015 |access-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425191600/https://fpif.org/portugals-democracy-crisis/ |archive-date=25 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In comparison to the [[Portuguese Communist Party]], the Left Bloc has been described as "more [[Left-libertarianism|socially libertarian]]".<ref name="demsoc"/> At present, together with the PS, Left Bloc aims at "building a stable, long-lasting and reliable majority at the Parliament, in order to support the formation and subsequent action of a government committed to the change demanded through the ballot box". This purpose foreshadows changes taking place not only in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] but as in all European territory.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/18/spain-election-podemos-austerity-syriza-greece Spain's election will be felt across the whole continent] – article by [[Owen Jones (writer)|Owen Jones]] at [[The Guardian]], 18 December 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/world/europe/spain-election-rajoy-citizens-podemos.html?_r=0 Governing Party in Spain Loses Majority in Parliamentary Election] – article by [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/raphael_minder/index.html?action=click&contentCollection=Europe&module=Byline&region=Header&pgtype=article Raphael Minder] at The New York Times, 20 December 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-election-idUSKBN0U30BH20151221 Splintered Spanish vote heralds arduous coalition talks] – news by [http://blogs.reuters.com/julien-toyer/ Julien Toyer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228090325/http://blogs.reuters.com/julien-toyer/ |date=2015-12-28 }} and [http://muckrack.com/sonya-dowsett Sonya Dowsett] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425191605/https://muckrack.com/sonya-dowsett |date=2019-04-25 }} at [[Reuters]], 20 December 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/world/europe/spain-elections-government.html?ref=topics Parties in Spain Wrestle to Form a Government] – article by [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/raphael_minder/index.html?action=click&contentCollection=Europe&module=Byline&region=Header&pgtype=article Raphael Minder] at The New York Times, 21 December 2015</ref> The party wants a stronger welfare state, rent controls, and to tax the wealthy and big companies.<ref>{{cite news |date= 7 March 2024 |title= Portugal election: Who are the candidates running |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/who-are-candidates-running-portugals-snap-election-2024-03-07/ |work= Reuters |access-date= 24 March 2025}}</ref> It also wants to use Portugal's budget surplus to increase investment in healthcare and education, lower tax on salaries and energy, and restrict the number of Airbnb's in overburdened areas.<ref>{{cite news |last= Jones |first= Sam |date= 4 March 2024 |title= The right has no fixes for Portugal's problems, says Left Bloc leader |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/04/portugal-election-right-problems-left-bloc-leader-mariana-mortagua |work= The Guardian |access-date= 24 March 2025}}</ref>

=== Society ===
The Bloc has proposed a number of important laws on [[civil rights]] and guarantees, including the protection of citizens from racist, xenophobic, and homophobic discrimination, support for [[same-sex marriage]], laws for the protection of workers and anti-bullfighting legislation. These included Portugal's first law on [[domestic violence]], which was then passed in parliament with the support of the [[Portuguese Communist Party]] and the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]].<ref name="demsoc" />

The Left Bloc has called for the legalisation of [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] in Portugal.<ref>{{cite news |date= 7 June 2022 |title= Portugal Group Demands Freedom to Vote for Personal Use of Cannabis |url= https://hightimes.com/news/portugal-group-demands-freedom-to-vote-for-personal-use-of-cannabis/ |work= High Times |access-date= 26 October 2022}}</ref> The party attempted to pass legislation in Parliament regarding cannabis law reform in Portugal in 2013 and 2015, both of which were rejected by the then ruling [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] coalition government.<ref>{{cite news |date= 20 December 2017 |title= Portugal considers cannabis legalisation |url= https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/portugal-considers-cannabis-legalisation/44271 |work= The Portugal News |access-date= 26 October 2022}}</ref>

=== Economy ===
In terms of economics the party advocates "greater [[State interventionism|state intervention]] in the economy in order to reduce inequalities", such as rises to the [[minimum wage]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Martins |first= Paula |date= 16 September 2021 |title= Who are the main parties for the local elections? |url= https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-09-16/who-are-the-main-parties-for-the-local-elections/62395 |work= The Portugal News  |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 10 May 2019 |title= Making Portugal's Break With Austerity Real |url= https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/10/portugal-elections-economy-socialist-party-left-bloc-francisco-louca |work= Jacobin |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref> It has also put forward "many legislative proposals defending salaries, [[pension]]s and the [[welfare state]]".<ref>{{cite news |date= 27 January 2022 |title= Factbox: Parties and leaders contesting Portugal's snap election |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/parties-leaders-contesting-portugals-snap-election-2022-01-27/ |work= Reuters |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref> The party has been described as [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalist]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last= Ames |first= Paul |date= 31 January 2022 |title= António Costa's against-the-odds election triumph |url= https://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-costa-socialist-party-absolutely-fabulous-election-portugal/ |work= Politico  |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date= 6 November 2015 |title= What is the Left Bloc? |url= https://www.esquerda.net/node/39448 |work= esquerda.net |access-date= 18 February 2022}}</ref> In September 2019, the party called for the minimum monthly wage to be raised to [[Euro|€]]650 for both the [[Public sector|public]] and [[private sector]]s in January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |date= 13 September 2019 |title= Left Bloc calls for minimum salary of €650 |url= https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/left-bloc-calls-for-minimum-salary-of-650/51184 |work= The Portugal News |publisher= TPN/Lusa |access-date= 26 October 2022}}</ref>

=== International relations ===
It is part of the [[European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet]]; a pan-European party that supports an alternative to capitalism.<ref>[https://leftalliance.eu/ WHO WE ARE]</ref>

The party has close relations with other European [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] parties, such as Spanish [[Podemos (Spanish political party)|Podemos]], [[La France Insoumise]], Swedish [[Left Party (Sweden)|Left Party]] and German [[Die Linke]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-04 |title=Bloco abriu campanha em Almada com eurodeputadas da esquerda europeia |url=https://www.esquerda.net/artigo/bloco-abriu-campanha-em-almada-com-eurodeputadas-da-esquerda-europeia/94745 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Esquerda.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-01 |title=Com os “grisalhos” e campanha porta a porta, BE tenta imitar o partido “irmão” na Alemanha – mas é “improvável” que tenha o mesmo sucesso |url=https://expresso.pt/politica/eleicoes/legislativas-2025/2025-04-01-com-os-grisalhos-e-campanha-porta-a-porta-be-tenta-imitar-o-partido-irmao-na-alemanha--mas-e-improvavel-que-tenha-o-mesmo-sucesso-f86090b8 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Expresso |language=pt}}</ref>

== Election results ==
[[File:Campanha Eleições Europeias (2698320591).jpg|thumb|[[Francisco Louçã]], [[Miguel Portas]] and [[Luís Fazenda]] in campaign for the [[2004 European Parliament election in Portugal|2004 European Parliament elections]].]]

=== Assembly of the Republic ===
'''Vote share in the Portuguese legislative elections'''
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:450 height:200
PlotArea   = width:388 height:170 left:40 bottom:20
AlignBars  = justify

Colors     =
  id:BE    value:rgb(0.65,0.16,0.16)  legend:Left_Bloc

DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:0 till:15
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:0

PlotData   =
  bar:Seats color:claret width:25   mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:S
  bar:1999 color:BE from:start till:2.4 text:2.4
  bar:2002 color:BE from:start till:2.7 text:2.7
  bar:2005 color:BE from:start till:6.4 text:6.4
  bar:2009 color:BE from:start till:9.8 text:9.8
  bar:2011 color:BE from:start till:5.2 text:5.2
  bar:2015 color:BE from:start till:10.2 text:10.2
  bar:2019 color:BE from:start till:9.5 text:9.5
  bar:2022 color:BE from:start till:4.4 text:4.4
  bar:2024 color:BE from:start till:4.4 text:4.4
  bar:2025 color:BE from:start till:2.0 text:2.0
  </timeline>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! width="155px"| Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[1999 Portuguese legislative election|1999]]
| rowspan="5" align=left|[[Francisco Louçã]]
| 132,333
| 2.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|2|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2002 Portuguese legislative election|2002]]
| 153,877
| 2.7 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|3|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2005 Portuguese legislative election|2005]]
| 364,971
| 6.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|8|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}5
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|2009]]
| 557,306
| 9.8 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|16|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}8
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|2011]]
| 288,923
| 5.2 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|8|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}8
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! rowspan="2"|[[2015 Portuguese legislative election|2015]]
| rowspan="4" align=left|[[Catarina Martins]]
| rowspan="2"|550,945
| rowspan="2"|10.2 (#3)
| rowspan="2"|{{Composition bar|19|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| rowspan="2"|{{increase}}11
| {{no2|Opposition {{small|(2015)}}}}
|- 
| {{partial2|Confidence and supply {{small|(2015–2019)}}}}
|-
! [[2019 Portuguese legislative election|2019]]
| 498,549 
| 9.5 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|19|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{steady}}0
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2022 Portuguese legislative election|2022]]
|244,603
|4.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|5|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}14
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2024 Portuguese legislative election|2024]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Mariana Mortágua]]
|282,314
|4.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|5|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{steady}}0
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2025 Portuguese legislative election|2025]]
|125,808
|2.0 (#7)
| {{Composition bar|1|230|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{decrease}}4
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

=== Presidential ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! width="152px"| Candidate
! Votes
! %
! Result
|-
![[2001 Portuguese presidential election|2001]]
| align=left| [[Fernando Rosas]]
|129,840
|3.0 (#4)
|{{no2|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}}}
|-
![[2006 Portuguese presidential election|2006]]
| align="left" | [[Francisco Louçã]]
|292,198
|5.3 (#5)
|{{no2|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}}}
|-
![[2011 Portuguese presidential election|2011]]
| align="left" | [[Manuel Alegre]]{{efn|name=Presidential}}
|831,838
|19.7 (#2)
|{{no2|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}}}
|-
![[2016 Portuguese presidential election|2016]]
| rowspan="2" align="left" | [[Marisa Matias]]
|469,814
|10.1 (#3)
|{{no2|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}}}
|-
![[2021 Portuguese presidential election|2021]]
|165,127
|4.0 (#5)
|{{no2|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}}}
|}

=== European Parliament ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! width="155px"| Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! EP Group
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in Portugal|1999]]
| rowspan=3 align=left| [[Miguel Portas]]
| 61,920
| 1.8 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|0|25|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| 
| align=center| –
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Portugal|2004]]
| 167,313
| 4.9 (#4) 
| {{Composition bar|1|24|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}1
| rowspan=3 align=center| [[United European Left/Nordic Green Left|GUE/NGL]]
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Portugal|2009]]
| 382,667
| 10.7 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|3|22|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}2
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Portugal|2014]]
| rowspan=2 align=left| [[Marisa Matias]]
| 149,764
| 4.6 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|1|21|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}2
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Portugal|2019]]
| 325,093
| 9.8 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}1
| rowspan=2 align=center| [[The Left in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL|The Left]]
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Portugal|2024]]
| align=left|[[Catarina Martins]]
| 168,107
| 4.3 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|1|21|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
|}

=== Local elections ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!Election
! width="173px" |Leader
! width="50px" |Votes
! %
!Mayors
!+/-
!Councillors
!+/-
!Assemblies
!+/-
!Parishes
!+/-
!Parish Assemblies
!+/-
|-
![[2001 Portuguese local elections|2001]]
| rowspan="3" align=left|[[Francisco Louçã]]
|61,789
|1.2 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|1|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|{{Composition bar|6|2044|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|{{Composition bar|28|6876|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|{{Composition bar|6|4252|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|{{Composition bar|46|34569|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|-
![[2005 Portuguese local elections|2005]]
|158,953
|3.0 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|1|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|7|2046|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}1
|{{Composition bar|114|6885|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}86
|{{Composition bar|3|4260|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}3
|{{Composition bar|229|34498|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}183
|-
![[2009 Portuguese local elections|2009]]
|164,396
|3.0 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|1|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|9|2078|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}2
|{{Composition bar|139|6946|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}25
|{{Composition bar|4|4260|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}1
|{{Composition bar|235|34672|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}6
|-
![[2013 Portuguese local elections|2013]]
| align=left |[[João Semedo]]<br>[[Catarina Martins]]
|120,982
|2.4 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|0|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}1
|{{Composition bar|8|2086|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}1
|{{Composition bar|100|6487|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}39
|{{Composition bar|0|3085|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}4
|{{Composition bar|138|27167|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}138
|-
![[2017 Portuguese local elections|2017]]
| rowspan="2" align=left|[[Catarina Martins]]
|170,040
|3.3 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|0|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|12|2074|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}4
|{{Composition bar|125|6461|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}25
|{{Composition bar|0|3092|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|213|27019|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Increase}}75
|-
![[2021 Portuguese local elections|2021]]
|137,560
|2.8 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|0|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|4|2064|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}8
|{{Composition bar|94|6448|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}31
|{{Composition bar|0|3066|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|162|26797|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}51
|-
![[2025 Portuguese local elections|2025]]
| align="left" |[[Mariana Mortágua]]
|30,629
|0.6 (#8)
|{{Composition bar|0|308|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|0|2058|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}4
|{{Composition bar|6|6463|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}88
|{{Composition bar|0|3216|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{Composition bar|2|27973|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Decrease}}160
|}

=== Regional Assemblies ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Region
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[Azores]]
! [[2024 Azorean regional election|2024]]
| align=left|[[António Lima]]
| 2,936
| 2.5 (#4)
| {{composition bar|1|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[Madeira]]
! [[2025 Madeiran regional election|2025]]
| align=left|[[Roberto Almada]]
| 1,586
| 1.1 (#9)
| {{composition bar|0|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{steady}}0
| {{n/a|No seats}}
|}
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Azorean regional elections|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! width="155px" | Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[2000 Azorean regional election|2000]]
| align="left" |
| 1,387
| 1.4 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|0|52|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
| {{n/a|No seats}}
|-
! [[2004 Azorean regional election|2004]]
| align=left |
| 1,022
| 1.0 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|0|52|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{Steady}}0
| {{n/a|No seats}}
|-
! [[2008 Azorean regional election|2008]]
| rowspan="3" align=left|[[Zuraida Soares]]
| 2,972
| 3.3 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|2|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2012 Azorean regional election|2012]]
| 2,428
| 2.3 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|1|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{decrease}}1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2016 Azorean regional election|2016]]
| 3,414
| 3.7 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|2|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
| {{increase}}1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2020 Azorean regional election|2020]]
| rowspan="2" align=left|[[António Lima]]
|3,962
|3.8 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|2|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2024 Azorean regional election|2024]]
|2,936
|2.5 (#4)
|{{Composition bar|1|57|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{decrease}}1
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|}
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Madeiran regional elections|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! width="155px" | Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
![[2004 Madeiran regional election|2004]]
| rowspan="2" align=left|[[Paulo Martinho Martins]]
|5,035
|3.7 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|1|68|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2007 Madeiran regional election|2007]]
|4,186
|3.0 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|1|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{Steady}}0
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2011 Madeiran regional election|2011]]
| rowspan="2" align=left|[[Roberto Almada]]
|2,512
|1.7 (#9)
|{{Composition bar|0|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{decrease}}1
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|-
![[2015 Madeiran regional election|2015]]
|4,849
|3.8 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|2|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{increase}}2
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2019 Madeiran regional election|2019]]
| align=left |[[Paulino Ascensão]]
|2,489
|1.7 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|0|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{decrease}}2
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|-
![[2023 Madeiran regional election|2023]]
| rowspan="3" align=left|[[Roberto Almada]]
|3,035
|2.2 (#8)
|{{Composition bar|1|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{increase}}1
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2024 Madeiran regional election|2024]]
|1,912
|1.4 (#9)
|{{Composition bar|0|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{decrease}}1
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|-
![[2025 Madeiran regional election|2025]]
|1,586
|1.1 (#9)
|{{Composition bar|0|47|hex={{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}}}}
|{{steady}}0
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|}

{{hidden end}}

== Organization ==
=== Leadership ===
==== Party Coordinators ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Name
!Portrait
!Constituency
! Start
! End
! colspan="2" |Prime Minister
|-
! rowspan="5" | 1
| rowspan="5" | [[Francisco Louçã]]<br><small>(b. 1956)</small>
| rowspan="5" |[[File:Deputados do Bloco de Esquerda (16) (4026598621).jpg|108x108px]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]
| rowspan="5" | 24 March 1999
| rowspan="5" | 10 November 2012
| style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[António Guterres]] <small>(1995–2002)</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[José Manuel Barroso|Durão Barroso]] <small>(2002–2004)</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[Pedro Santana Lopes|Santana Lopes]] <small>(2004–2005)</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[José Sócrates]] <small>(2005–2011)</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Pedro Passos Coelho|Passos Coelho]] <small>(2011–2015)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2
| [[João Semedo]]<br><small>(1951–2018)</small>
|[[File:João m Semedo (cropped).jpg|98x98px]]
|[[Porto (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Porto]]
| rowspan="3" | 10 November 2012
| 30 November 2014
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Catarina Martins]]<br><small>(b. 1973)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Catarina Martins, 1.º Tempo de Antena do Bloco de Esquerda 2022 (cropped).png|100x100px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Porto (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Porto]]
| rowspan="2" |28 May 2023
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|-
! 3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}" |
| rowspan="2" |[[António Costa]] <small>(2015–2024)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" |4
| rowspan="2" |[[Mariana Mortágua]]<br><small>(b. 1986)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Mariana Mortágua fala sobre criptomoedas (cropped).png|96x96px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]
| rowspan="2" |28 May 2023
| rowspan="2" |''Incumbent''
| style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[Luís Montenegro]] <small>(2024–present)</small>
|}
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  bar:Mortágua
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==== Parliamentary leaders ====
* [[Luís Fazenda]] ([[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]): 1999 – 2009
* [[José Manuel Pureza]] ([[Coimbra (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Coimbra]]): 2009 – 2011
* [[Luís Fazenda]] ([[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]): 2011 – 2012
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] ([[Aveiro (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Aveiro]]; [[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]): 2012 – 2024
* [[Fabian Figueiredo]] ([[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]]): 2024 – 2025

=== Elected politicians ===
==== Members of the Assembly of the Republic ====
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=17th Legislature (2025 – present)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Mariana Mortágua]] ([[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]])<br>''Andreia Galvão – from September 2025 to October 2025''{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=16th Legislature (2024 – 2025)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Mariana Mortágua]] ([[Lisbon (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Lisbon]])
* [[Fabian Figueiredo]] (Lisbon)
* [[Marisa Matias]] ([[Porto (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Porto]])<br>''[[Isabel Pires]] – from April 2024 to May 2024''
* ''[[José Soeiro]] (Porto) – until February 2025''<br>[[Isabel Pires]] – from February 2025
* [[Joana Mortágua]] ([[Setúbal (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Setúbal]])
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=15th Legislature (2022 – 2024)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Mariana Mortágua]] (Lisbon)
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] (Lisbon)
* ''[[Catarina Martins]] (Porto) – until September 2023''<br>[[Isabel Pires]] – from September 2023
* [[José Soeiro]] (Porto)<br>''[[Isabel Pires]] – from February 2023 to August 2023''
* [[Joana Mortágua]] (Setúbal)
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=14th Legislature (2019 – 2022)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Mariana Mortágua]] (Lisbon)
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Fabian Figueiredo]] – from April 2021 to June 2021''
* [[Beatriz Gomes Dias]] (Lisbon)
* Jorge Costa (Lisbon)
* [[Isabel Pires]] (Lisbon)
* [[Catarina Martins]] (Porto)
* [[José Soeiro]] (Porto)
* Luís Monteiro (Porto)
* Maria Manuel Rola (Porto)
* José Maria Cardoso ([[Braga (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Braga]])
* Alexandra Vieira (Braga)
* [[Joana Mortágua]] (Setúbal)
* ''[[Sandra Cunha]] (Setúbal) – until April 2021''<br>Diana Santos – from April 2021
* [[Moisés Ferreira (politician)|Moisés Ferreira]] ([[Aveiro (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Aveiro]])
* Nelson Peralta (Aveiro)
* [[Ricardo Vicente]] ([[Leiria (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Leiria]])<br>''Manuel Azenha – from June 2020 to January 2021''
* [[José Manuel Pureza]] ([[Coimbra (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Coimbra]])
* João Vasconcelos ([[Faro (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Faro]])
* Fabíola Cardoso ([[Santarém (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Santarém]])
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=13th Legislature (2015 – 2019)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Mariana Mortágua]] (Lisbon)
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] (Lisbon)
* Jorge Costa (Lisbon)
* [[Isabel Pires]] (Lisbon)
* Jorge Falcato Simões (Lisbon)<br>''Maria Luísa Cabral – from June 2016 to January 2018''
* [[Catarina Martins]] (Porto)
* [[José Soeiro]] (Porto)
* Luís Monteiro (Porto)
* ''Domicília Costa (Porto) – until July 2017''<br>Maria Manuel Rola – from July 2017
* ''Jorge Campos (Porto) – until December 2018''<br>Fernando Manuel Barbosa – from December 2018
* [[Pedro Soares (politician)|Pedro Soares]] (Braga)
* [[Joana Mortágua]] (Setúbal)
* [[Sandra Cunha]] (Setúbal)
* [[Moisés Ferreira (politician)|Moisés Ferreira]] (Aveiro)
* [[Heitor de Sousa]] (Leiria)
* [[José Manuel Pureza]] (Coimbra)
* João Vasconcelos (Faro)
* Carlos Matias (Santarém)
* ''Paulino Ascensão ([[Madeira (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Madeira]]) – until May 2018''<br>Ernesto Ferraz – from May 2018
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=12th Legislature (2011 – 2015)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* ''[[Francisco Louçã]] (Lisbon) – until October 2012''<br>Helena Pinto – from October 2012
* ''[[Ana Drago]] (Lisbon) – until August 2013''<br>''Rita Calvário– from June 2011 to September 2011''<br>[[Mariana Mortágua]] – from August 2013
* [[Luís Fazenda]] (Lisbon)
* ''[[João Semedo]] (Porto) – until'' ''March 2015''<br>[[José Soeiro]] – from March 2015
* [[Catarina Martins]] (Porto)
* Mariana Aiveca (Setúbal)
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] (Aveiro)
* ''[[Cecília Honório]] (Faro) – until June 2015''<br>Eugénia Taveira – from June 2015
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=11th Legislature (2009 – 2011)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Francisco Louçã]] (Lisbon)
* [[Ana Drago]] (Lisbon)
* [[Luís Fazenda]] (Lisbon)
* Helena Pinto (Lisbon)
* Rita Calvário (Lisbon)
* [[João Semedo]] (Porto)
* [[Catarina Martins]] (Porto)
* [[José Soeiro]] (Porto)
* [[Pedro Soares (politician)|Pedro Soares]] (Braga)
* ''[[Fernando Rosas]] (Setúbal) – until October 2010''<br>Jorge Costa – from October 2010
* Mariana Aiveca (Setúbal)
* [[Pedro Filipe Soares]] (Aveiro)
* [[José Manuel Pureza]] (Coimbra)
* [[Heitor de Sousa]] (Leiria)
* [[José Gusmão]] (Santarém)
* [[Cecília Honório]] (Faro)
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=10th Legislature (2005 – 2009)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Francisco Louçã]] (Lisbon)
* [[Luís Fazenda]] (Lisbon)
* [[Ana Drago]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Cecília Honório]] – from September 2006 to January 2009''
* Helena Pinto (Lisbon)
* ''João Teixeira Lopes (Porto) – until March 2006''<br>[[João Semedo]] – from March 2006
* Alda Macedo (Porto)<br>''[[José Soeiro]] – from December 2007 to June 2008''
* [[Fernando Rosas]] (Setúbal)<br>''António Chora – from April 2006 to December 2007''
* Mariana Aiveca (Setúbal)
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=9th Legislature (2002 – 2005)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Francisco Louçã]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Joana Amaral Dias]] – from January 2003 to August 2003''
* [[Luís Fazenda]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Ana Drago]] – from September 2002 to January 2003''
* João Teixeira Lopes (Porto)<br>''[[Alda Sousa]] – from February 2004 to June 2004''
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=8th Legislature (1999 – 2002)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Francisco Louçã]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Helena Neves]] – from October 2000 to December 2000''<br>''[[Fernando Rosas]] – from February 2001 to March 2001''
* [[Luís Fazenda]] (Lisbon)<br>''[[Helena Neves]] – from December 2000 to February 2001''<br>''[[Fernando Rosas]] – from September 2001 to February 2002''
{{hidden end}}

==== Members of the European Parliament ====
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=10th Legislature (2024 – present)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Catarina Martins]]
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=9th Legislature (2019 – 2024)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* ''[[Marisa Matias]] – until March 2024''<br>[[Anabela Rodrigues (MEP)|Anabela Rodrigues]] – from March 2024
* [[José Gusmão]]
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=8th Legislature (2014 – 2019)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Marisa Matias]]
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=7th Legislature (2009 – 2014)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* ''[[Miguel Portas]] – until April 2012''<br>[[Alda Sousa]] – from April 2012
* [[Marisa Matias]]
* ''[[Rui Tavares]] – became independent in June 2011''
{{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=6th Legislature (2004 – 2009)|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

* [[Miguel Portas]]
{{hidden end}}

== See also ==
* [[List of political parties in Portugal]]

==Notes==
{{notelist
| refs =
{{efn
| name = Presidential
| Candidate endorsed by the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] (PS).
}}
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|pt}}
*[http://www.esquerda.net/ Website of the newspaper "Esquerda"] {{in lang|pt}}
*[http://www.esquerda.net/en/artigo/what-left-bloc/39448 What is the Left Bloc?] - Article

{{Portuguese parties}}
{{European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Left Bloc (Portugal)| ]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Portugal]]
[[Category:Anti-bullfighting organizations]]
[[Category:Anti-capitalist political parties]]
[[Category:Democratic socialist parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in Portugal]]
[[Category:Far-left politics in Europe]]
[[Category:Fourth International (post-reunification)]]
[[Category:Left-wing populism]]
[[Category:Multi-tendency organizations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Lisbon]]
[[Category:Party of the European Left member parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Political parties in Portugal]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in Portugal]]
[[Category:Left-wing parties]]
[[Category:Anti-racism in Portugal]]