In the municipal elections of 2017, PS already led more than half of the Algarve's municipalities, but has now managed to increase the number of municipalities from 10 to 12, with the conquest of the councils of Monchique and Vila Real de Santo António.

The PSD, on the other hand, reduced the number of municipalities in the district from five to three, with the CDU 'securing' the leadership of Silves, the only communist municipality in the Algarve.

In Monchique, socialist Paulo Alves was elected president with an absolute majority, winning three of the five terms in dispute, after 12 years of social democratic leadership.

According to provisional data from the Ministry of Internal Administration, the PS obtained 49.61% of the votes, with the PSD being the second most voted party, with 21.50% of the votes, and the CDS-PP the third.

In Vila Real de Santo António, PS managed to 'steal' the municipality from the PSD, electing Álvaro Araújo with 37.12% of the votes, obtaining three of the seven mandates.

In second place was the PSD, with 32.47% and three mandates. The coalition formed by PCP/PEV totaled 11.72% of the votes and one mandate.

Vila Real de Santo António City Council had been led by the PSD for 16 years, first with Luís Gomes, who served three terms, and then with Conceição Cabrita, who resigned in April after being detained on suspicion of corruption.

In addition to these two municipalities now taken by the socialists, PS kept its leadership in the councils of Alcoutim, Aljezur, Lagoa, Lagos, Loulé, Olhão, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Vila do Bispo.

The PSD only managed to maintain the municipalities of Albufeira, Castro Marim and Faro.