Portugal: Center-Right Wins, Chega’s Miracle
Minimal gap with the Socialist Party, which has collapsed since the last election, while there is a boom of radical right-wing Chega (Enough)
The next government in Portugal, where political elections were held on March 10, will be center-right. It was a head-to-head battle between the Democratic Alliance and the Socialist Party until the very end: the former led with 28.66% of the vote, equivalent to 77 seats, while the left-wing forces received 28.63% of preferences, which is 76 seats. The margin is minimal, but Nuno Santos, secretary general of the Socialist Party, immediately conceded defeat, congratulating his rival Luis Montenegro and explaining that he is preparing to lead the opposition.
However, according to some analysts, the real winner of the consultations was the Chega (Enough) party, with 18.06% of the vote and 48 seats. Founded just 5 years ago, the group, led by André Ventura, stands out for its nationalist and Euroskeptic positions. The vote has doubled from 2022 to today, and according to Portuguese media reports, it will now be difficult to form a government, and it is likely to be one of the most unstable in the country’s political history. André Ventura called the election results “historic,” explaining that “this is the night when the two-party existence in this country ended.”
The votes of the Democratic Alliance are to be added to those of another center-right party, the Liberal Initiative, which came in fourth place and will be allocated 8 seats, while Chega is also seeking to enter the government. “The Portuguese have given the majority to the conservatives, and it would be irresponsible not to form a right-wing government now,” Ventura further explained. Supporters of the Democratic Alliance have in the past ruled out forming an executive branch with Ventura extremists.
Luis Montenegro, leader of the Democratic Alliance, explained the results: “I have always said that winning the election would mean we would have one more vote than any other party, and only under those circumstances would I agree to become Prime Minister. It seems inevitable that the Democratic Alliance won the election and the Socialists lost.” However, he will need Chega’s votes to govern the country.