The Democratic Alliance (AD), the ruling party in Portugal, won the majority of seats in the recent general election but still fell short of obtaining a parliamentary majority. The far-right Chega party gained significant support, according to nearly complete official results. There are four seats remaining to be assigned in Portugal’s 230-seat parliament.
The AD received 32.7% of the vote, falling short of the 42% needed for an outright majority. The Socialist Party secured 23.4% of the vote, while the far-right Chega garnered 22.6%. In the last election in 2024, the AD obtained 29% of the vote, but that minority government collapsed this year.
The AD’s leader, Luis Montenegro, has ruled out any coalition deal with Chega. The pro-business Liberal Initiative (IL) is expected to secure between 4% to 8% of the vote. The AD will likely have to make agreements with smaller parties to secure a majority of at least 116 seats in Portugal’s parliament.
The repeated failure to achieve a parliamentary majority in successive elections has raised concerns about political stability in Portugal, which is experiencing the worst period of political turmoil in decades.
Montenegro called for a confidence vote in parliament in March, but it failed. Opposition parties questioned his integrity due to dealings with his family’s consultancy firm. Most opinion polls showed voters dismissing the opposition’s criticism.
The Chega party, which Montenegro refuses to work with, is expected to secure a higher percentage of votes than initially predicted. Exit polls suggest that the party’s recent health problems have not affected its results.
The election has been dominated by issues such as housing and immigration. Portugal has witnessed a rise in immigration and a housing crisis, characterized by soaring house prices and rents. The country’s average monthly salary is relatively low compared to Western European countries.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/portugal-election-ruling-ad-wins-stays-short-of-majority/a-72580618?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
