Portugal’s centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Luís Montenegro, has emerged as the winner of Sunday’s snap parliamentary election — the country’s third in as many years — though once again falling short of an outright majority.

Montenegro addressed supporters after the results, promising to “stimulate investment” and “guarantee prosperity and social justice.” Despite failing to secure a governing majority, he expressed confidence in his coalition’s ability to steer the country toward political and economic stability.

The election delivered a dramatic reshaping of Portugal’s political landscape, with the ruling Socialist Party suffering major losses. Its leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, announced his resignation after his party was edged out of the top spot and landed neck-and-neck with the rapidly rising far-right Chega party.

Chega, led by André Ventura, is now poised to potentially overtake the Socialists altogether once votes from abroad are counted — a process expected to take several days. In last year’s election, two of the four overseas seats went to Chega, while the Socialists managed just one.

Ventura hailed the results as “historic,” declaring that “the era of two-party dominance in Portugal is over.” His campaign, centred on immigration and corruption, resonated strongly with voters, especially amid public frustration over the political scandals that triggered both this election and the previous one.

The current election was called after a no-confidence vote toppled the government, driven in part by a controversy involving Montenegro’s past business dealings. The company he founded before entering politics — now managed by his sons — was at the heart of allegations that opposition parties used to attack his credibility. Montenegro thanked his family and political allies for their support through the storm.

In his farewell speech, Santos stood firm in his criticism of Montenegro, insisting that he was not fit to govern. He called on the Socialist Party not to drop the issue, signalling possible resistance ahead as Portugal faces a more fragmented and combative political future.

Chioma Kalu

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