Centre-Right Democratic Alliance Wins Portuguese Election as Far-Right Chega Makes Historic Gains

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Portugal’s centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by caretaker Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, has emerged as the largest party in the country’s third snap election in just three years. However, the AD once again fell short of a majority, while the far-right Chega party made record gains, upending Portugal’s traditional political landscape.

With 99% of the votes counted by midnight Sunday, the AD secured 32.1% of the vote, translating into 86 seats in the 230-seat Parliament—well below the 116 needed for a governing majority. The Socialist Party (PS) and Chega each won 58 seats, with 23.4% and 22.6% of the vote respectively, putting Chega on the brink of becoming the second-largest party for the first time in nearly four decades.

Montenegro Claims Mandate to Govern

Despite the fragmented outcome, Prime Minister Montenegro addressed supporters early Monday, declaring a “clear and reinforced mandate” from the Portuguese people.

“The people want this government and this prime minister,” he said, reaffirming his campaign promise to reject any alliance with Chega. “Just let us work.”

Far-Right Chega Declares ‘End of Bipartisanship’

Chega leader André Ventura celebrated the party’s historic performance, which significantly improved from its 18% vote share in the previous election. Speaking to a jubilant crowd, Ventura declared the result a turning point:

“We didn’t win, but we’ve made history. We ended 50 years of socialist and conservative dominance.”

Yet, Chega’s momentum faces limits. Montenegro has categorically ruled out any coalition with the far-right party, calling it “unreliable” and “unfit to govern.” The Liberal Initiative, another small party with about seven seats, also ruled out supporting any arrangement involving Chega.

Socialists Suffer Major Setback

The Socialist Party is now left grappling with its worst electoral result in recent history. On Monday morning, PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos announced his resignation and confirmed he would not seek re-election as party head.

The early election was triggered in March after Montenegro called a confidence vote amid scrutiny over a 2021 data protection consultancy he founded and later transferred to family members. Accused of a potential conflict of interest, Montenegro denied wrongdoing but failed to secure parliamentary backing, leading to the snap election.

Housing, Immigration Drive Political Shifts

Key issues during the campaign included housing shortages, public service concerns, and rising living costs. Immigration also surged in political relevance after the caretaker government announced the expulsion of 18,000 undocumented migrants—a move critics said pandered to far-right sentiment.