Portugal’s ​Right-leaning Goverment Wins Election, Faces Majority Challenge

Luis Montenegro, May 18, 2025.”>

LISBON, Portugal – Portugal’s moderate-right Prime minister Luis Montenegro secured a victory in Sunday’s legislative elections, May 18, but fell short of ⁢obtaining a sufficient majority to ensure political stability.

The chega Party (“Enough”), representing the extreme right, continued its upward trajectory, garnering 20%​ of the vote for the ⁣first time and positioning itself as a meaningful opposition force alongside the Socialist Party.

According to a survey broadcast by RTP public television, the outgoing government camp secured between 29% and 34% of the vote. The ​Socialist ⁤Party trailed with 21% to ⁣26%, while Chega obtained 20% to ‍24%.

Montenegro, 52, ⁣a lawyer, has consistently rejected governing with Chega’s support.he had hoped to broaden ‍his majority by negotiating with the Liberal Initiative, which was projected to secure 4%‍ to 7% of the votes.

Partial​ official results were expected later in the evening.

In terms of parliamentary seats, the ‍outgoing coalition was⁣ projected to win 85 to 96 seats out of 230, remaining below the 116-seat threshold required for an absolute ​majority.

Even with the addition of six to twelve seats perhaps secured by the Liberals, Montenegro could find himself navigating ‌between the Socialist Party, led by 48-year-old economist Pedro Nuno Santos, and the far-right Chega party, headed by André Ventura, 42,⁤ a former seminarian and lawyer known for his past role as ⁣a football‍ commentator.

Socialist Party faces Setback

Montenegro, who was compelled to resign in March amid conflict of interest allegations, appears to have succeeded in leveraging the election to ensure his political survival. Though, his gains may prove insufficient to alter the ​balance of power in the ⁤assembly.

His resignation stemmed from scrutiny surrounding the activities ⁣of⁤ an advisory company registered at his home and in the names of his children.‌ During his final campaign rally, Montenegro asserted, “No one has ‌ever been ⁤so⁣ clear as me,” while the leader of the Socialist opposition accused him of “mixing politics and buisness” ​by ‍accepting private business funds after assuming ⁢office.

The Socialist Party, narrowly defeated​ in​ 2024 after eight years in⁣ power, emerged as the major loser, potentially facing being overtaken ⁣by chega as the primary opposition party.

In‍ the previous parliament,the ruling coalition held a mere two-seat advantage⁣ over ‍the Socialists.

Chega’s⁣ Rapid Ascent

Over the ⁣past year, Montenegro’s administration implemented measures aimed at ‍bolstering purchasing power, including increasing pensions and the minimum ​wage, and acceding to demands from various civil servant categories, such as teachers, doctors, and police‍ officers.The government also introduced tax reductions for young people.

moreover, Montenegro’s government‍ tightened the migration ​policies of the previous Socialist administration led by Antonio Costa, which had been among⁣ the most flexible ​in Europe.

As the number of‌ foreigners residing in Portugal has quadrupled ⁢since 2017, reaching approximately 15% of the total population of 10 million, immigration has become a prominent issue in political discourse.As its inception in 2019, Chega ‌has experienced remarkable growth, securing 18% of‌ the vote in March 2024 and increasing its ​parliamentary depiction from twelve to fifty deputies.

Ventura’s campaign was marked by two instances of discomfort in front of television cameras, but he⁣ appeared to be in better condition when casting his vote on Sunday.

Capitalizing on the Prime Minister’s setbacks and the influx⁣ of migrant workers from​ south Asia, Ventura reiterated the traditional rhetoric of populist parties, targeting corruption among political elites and immigrants.