Far-right Chega overtakes Socialists as Portugal's main opposition party in parliament

Published connected 29/05/2025 - 11:26 GMT+2•Updated 15:49

Far-right Chega statement has go Portugal's main guidance party, pursuing a last tally of votes from nan 18 May election.

After nan first information of counting, nan statement was tied connected 58 seats pinch nan Socialist Party (PS), which received a somewhat higher stock of nan vote.

However, Chega — which intends "Enough" successful Portuguese — secured 2 much seats aft overseas voting was taken into account, while nan PS stayed connected 58.

“This is simply a profound alteration successful nan Portuguese governmental system," Chega leader André Ventura told supporters aft his statement had overtaken nan PS.

The predetermination results collapsed pinch nan country's governmental position quo, arsenic centre-right and centre-left parties person typically alternated betwixt authorities and opposition.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's centre-right Democratic Alliance secured 91 seats of nan National Assembly's 230 seats, making it nan largest bloc successful parliament.

Montenegro, who has ruled retired moving pinch Chega, said he would shape a caller number government.

The mid-May predetermination — nan 3rd nationalist ballot successful arsenic galore years — was called aft Montenegro mislaid a assurance ballot successful parliament, pursuing concerns astir nan premier minister's business dealings. He denies immoderate wrongdoing.

Chega's emergence coincides pinch far-right gains crossed Europe, pinch parties including Alternative for Germany (AfD) now successful nan governmental mainstream.

The erstwhile fringe party, which campaigned nether nan motto “Save Portugal”, took only 1 spot erstwhile it first competed successful elections successful 2019. Since then, its hardline stance against migration has seen it surge successful popularity.