The Presidential elections in Portugal turned into a disappointment for Manuel Alégre, who was the author of Uma flor de verde pinho, representing Portugal at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. After the first exit-polls, it appeared he came second with only 20% of the votes. Cavaco Silva won the elections.
Manuel Alégre, who was born on 12th May 1936, lived exiled for 10 years in Argel, and joined the Socialist Party in 1974. He has been one of the most popular deputies of the Portuguese Parliament from 1974 to 2002 for Coimbra and for Lisbon since 2002. He has also been Deputy Speaker since 1995. On the other hand, Alégre has won several literary prizes and could wrote for performers like Fado's diva, Amália Rodrigues.
Cavaco Silva won the elections with a significant majority of the votes. The other candidates for the highest position in Portuguese politics were Mário Soares, Jerónimo de Sousa, Francisco Louçã, and Garcia Pereira.
