Portugal held parliamentary elections on Sunday, and official vote counting results show that the center-right Democratic Alliance, led by incumbent Prime Minister Montenegro, won the most seats, securing victory in the third election in three years. However, they failed to secure the 116 seats needed for an absolute majority in parliament, unable to form a majority government on their own. The far-right party 'Enough' achieved another breakthrough, with a vote share exceeding 22%.
In this election, the Democratic Alliance received 32.1% of the votes, securing 86 seats; the center-left Socialist Party received 23.38% of the votes, securing 58 seats; the far-right 'Enough' party received 22.56% of the votes, tying with the Socialist Party, and likewise secured 58 seats.
The Far-right Party's Vote Share Surpasses 22% for the First Time
The 'Enough' party achieved further progress in this election, with their vote share surpassing 22% for the first time, closely following the Socialist Party and solidifying its position as the third largest force in Portuguese politics.
During this election, immigration policy, the cost of living crisis, and housing issues became the most concerned topics. Polls indicate a significant increase in voter concerns about political stability and economic livelihood.
52-year-old Montenegro is a lawyer who consistently refuses to cooperate under any circumstances with the 'Enough' party to form a government. In this election, he hopes to expand his governing base by seeking the support of the Liberal Initiative party, which is expected to receive between 4% and 7% of the votes, ranking fourth.
Prime Minister Refuses to Form a Coalition Government with Far-right Party
Montenegro stated that although he did not secure an absolute majority in parliament, he has received a clear and reinforced mandate from the Portuguese people to govern. He claims to uphold his commitment not to reach any agreements with the far-right 'Enough' party and pointed out that the opposition Socialist Party is unwilling to negotiate a majority agreement.
The leader of the 'Enough' party, Ventura, stated that the current election vote share is much higher than the previous 18%, claiming this move ended 50 years of Conservative and Socialist governance, "destroying Portugal's bipartisan cooperation." Political scholar Lovo from the University of Lisbon pointed out that the 'Enough' party is the big winner this time around.