Portugal's Centre-Right Wins Election Amid Far-Right Surge
In Portugal, the rise of Chega has given the combined right a majority in the 230-seat legislature.
Luis Montenegro, leader of Social Democratic Party (PSD) attends an election campaign rally in Lisbon, Portugal on March 08, 2024. Portugal will head to the polls on March 10 for snap parliamentary elections following Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s November 2023 resignation and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s subsequent decision to proceed with new elections. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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n a political shift that reflects a broader trend in Europe, Portugal’s centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) emerged victorious in Sunday’s general election, according to the party’s leader, Luis Montenegro. However, the path to forming a government remains uncertain, as Montenegro ruled out negotiations with the surging far-right Chega party, whose parliamentary representation quadrupled to at least 48 seats.
The rise of Chega has given the combined right a majority in the 230-seat legislature. This outcome signifies an unexpected move towards the far right in Portugal, a country that has historically been considered immune to the rise of right-wing populism in Europe. The election results echo a wider trend expected to manifest in gains for far-right parties across the continent in the upcoming European elections in June.
Pedro Nuno Santos, the leader of the left-leaning Socialist Party (PS), conceded defeat after a closely contested election. The PS, in power since 2015, secured the second position by a narrow margin. Montenegro, addressing supporters, emphasized that the AD had won the election and called for responsible actions by parties in the new parliament to fulfill the wishes of the Portuguese people.
A “negative alliance”
While Santos ruled out supporting the AD’s platform, which includes across-the-board tax cuts, Montenegro expressed hope that the PS and Chega would not form a “negative alliance” to thwart the desired government. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is yet to formally invite the AD leader to form a government, a step that Montenegro anticipates.
The AD, along with conservative allies in the Madeira region, won a total of at least 79 seats, surpassing the PS’s 77. Four seats were pending attribution after the final count of ballots from abroad.
The far-right Chega party campaigned on an anti-establishment platform, focusing on eliminating corruption and expressing concerns about what it perceives as “excessive” immigration. Chega’s leader, Andre Ventura, asserted that the election results demonstrated the Portuguese people’s desire for a government comprising the AD and Chega.
A severe housing crisis
Amid concerns of potential political instability, AD supporters voiced their expectations at the election night party. Paula Medeiros stated that there was “no doubt that instability will be constant.” The PS and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), leading the newly formed AD, have alternated in power since the fall of the dictatorship in 1974.
Key issues dominating the campaign included a severe housing crisis, low wages, healthcare challenges, and widespread corruption. Despite these challenges, Portugal, under Socialist leadership, achieved solid economic growth and budget surpluses, earning praise from Brussels and investors. The AD’s approach to fiscal prudence will be closely monitored as it navigates forming a government in this new political landscape.
Source: Reuters
