Portugal heads to polls in third election in three years | World News

Millions in Portugal will vote today in the country’s third general election in three years, amid growing concerns that the result may once again fail to produce a stable government. The election was triggered just one year into the centre-right minority government’s term after Prime Miner Luis Montenegro failed to secure a vote of confidence in parliament this March.
Montenegro had proposed the vote himself after the opposition raised integrity concerns over his family’s consultancy firm. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Despite the controversy, most opinion polls suggest voters have largely dismissed the opposition’s allegations.
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Democratic alliance ahead
Montenegro’s Democratic Alliance (AD) is expected to receive the most votes, gaining slightly more seats than in the previous election held in March 2024. Still, polls suggest the party will once again fall short of securing a parliamentary majority.
Members of parliament of the popul right-wing party Chega carry a Portuguese flag during an election campaign rally in downtown Lisbon. (AP Photo)
Radio Renascenca’s ‘poll of polls’ aggregator places AD above 32%, with the centre-left Social Party (PS) trailing at around 26%.
“The only doubt is whether the AD will form a new minority government…or whether it will form a post-electoral coalition with IL, even if this coalition does not guarantee an absolute majority,” political scient Antonio Costa Pinto said as per Reuters, referring to the pro-business Liberal Initiative party (IL).
Analysts view IL as a potential partner, but current polling indicates that a combined vote share is unlikely to meet the 116-seat majority needed in Portugal’s 230-member parliament.Story continues below this ad

Public fatigue
After a decade of fragile governments—only one of which secured a full-term majority—voters are showing signs of fatigue. Turnout has traditionally been low in Portugal, and some political scients warn it could fall further this year due to repeated elections and limited change.
Far-right party Chega, polling in third place at around 18%, remains a potential wildcard. Its leader, Andre Ventura, has faced health setbacks recently but made a surprise appearance at the party’s final campaign event on Friday.
Montenegro has ruled out forming any alliances with Chega.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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