Portugal election: leader of winning centre-right party calls on rivals not to stand in his way
Portugal's Democratic Alliance narrowly wins snap general election with surge by far-right party.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Portugal’s centre-right Democratic Alliance, led by Luís Montenegro, narrowly won the recent snap general election, urging left-wing and far-right parties not to obstruct the formation of a minority government. The Alliance, consisting of the Social Democratic party and two smaller conservative parties, won 79 seats, with the incumbent Socialists coming second. The far-right Chega party surged to third place. Montenegro is now awaiting the president’s invitation to form a government, despite lacking a majority. He has rejected alliances with Chega due to its leader’s controversial views but may face pressure to reconsider to secure a centre-right government. The election results have garnered reactions from European politicians, praising the Alliance’s win and acknowledging Chega’s gains. The election was triggered by the resignation of the Socialist prime minister over alleged irregularities. The Socialist party accepted defeat, intending to revamp and regain support. Dissatisfaction with mainstream parties and societal issues contributed to Chega’s rise.