LISBON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Campaigning for local elections that will officially take place on Oct. 1 began in Portugal on Tuesday.
Over 12,000 candidates nationwide will canvass for votes on three fronts as the electorate is asked to select a Municipal Chamber, a Municipal Assembly and a Parish Assembly. There are 308 municipalities and 3,091 parishes.
In each Municipal Chamber, the councillor with the most votes becomes mayor. The race for the Lisbon mayorship will be a closely observed contest. Incumbent Fernando Medina of the center-left Socialist Party did not run last time. He took over from Antonio Costa mid-term, when Costa resigned the mayorship to contest the general election.
Medina is expected to win in his own right this time, but faces competition from 11 other candidates.
The main opposition Socialist Party came out on top in the last local elections, held in 2013, taking control of 150 chambers. The ruling center-right Social Democratic Party finished second with 106 while the independents won control of 13 chambers.
Campaigning will cease on Sept. 29, leaving one day of reflection before polls open on Oct. 1.
