Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced that his government will move forward with the proposal of a motion of confidence in the executive by parliament. Watch this report for more details!

Portugal PM Luis Montenegro calls for confidence vote

Portugal's new centre-right Prime Minister Luis Montenegro unveiled his cabinet Thursday, after his centre-right coalition barely managed to emerge top in a badly fractured parliament.

Portugal PM-elect picks new cabinet

Portugal's president named Luis Montenegro, head of the centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), as the country's new prime minister on Thursday and invited him to form a minority government after eight years of Socialist rule.

The AD won a parliamentary election on March 10 by a slim margin, far short of a working majority. Montenegro, 51, has repeatedly said his party is prepared to govern on its own and will not negotiate a broad formal agreement with the far-right party Chega to work together.

Chega emerged as a political force after quadrupling its parliamentary representation - a first for a far-right party since the fall of a fascist dictatorship 50 years ago.

An AD government will be dependent on piecemeal deals in parliament with Chega or the left wing to pass legislation, making it potentially unstable.

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The widely expected nomination by conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa came shortly after midnight on Thursday after the remaining ballots from abroad were counted by the electoral commission, giving Chega two additional seats, while the AD and the Socialists added just one each.

Overall, the AD won 80 seats in the 230-seat legislature, which is expected to return next week, followed by the Socialists at 78 seats and Chega, which was founded just five years ago, with 50.

"The AD won the election...(so) the president...decided to nominate Luis Montenegro as prime minister," the president's office said in a statement.

The result underscores a political tilt to right-wing populism and a dwindling of Socialist governance across Europe, which is expected to result in gains for far-right parties in European elections in June.

After being named premier, Montenegro told reporters the government would be sworn in on April 2. Within 10 days of that date must present its programme to parliament, which is automatically approved unless parliament holds a vote to reject it.

Montenegro added that he would present his cabinet of ministers to Rebelo de Sousa next Thursday.

Analysts expect an AD government will be allowed to take over, and they see the 2025 budget as its first test of survival toward the end of this year. A rejected budget could lead to a new election.

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Chega leader and former TV sports commentator Andre Ventura has threatened to vote against the bill and said the AD would be responsible for any political instability if it continues to ignore his party. But he also signalled support for at least some initial steps proposed by Montenegro.

Such initiatives include higher wages and benefits for healthcare workers, police and teachers, and lower income taxes.

Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos said on Tuesday it was "practically impossible" for his party to support AD's 2025 budget, but it was open to negotiating measures to help the flagging&nbsp;healthcare, education and security sectors.

Portugal's president named Luis Montenegro, head of the centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), as the country's new prime minister on Thursday and invited him to form a minority government after eight years of Socialist rule.

Portugal's president named Luis Montenegro, head of the centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), as the country's new prime minister on Thursday and invited him to form a minority government after eight years of Socialist rule. The AD won a parliamentary election on March 10 by a slim margin, far short of a working majority. Montenegro, 51, has repeatedly said his party is prepared to govern on its own and will not negotiate a broad formal agreement with the far-right party Chega to work together. Chega emerged as a political force after quadrupling its parliamentary representation - a first for a far-right party since the fall of a fascist dictatorship 50 years ago. An AD government will be dependent on piecemeal deals in parliament with Chega or the left wing to pass legislation, making it potentially unstable. Also Read | Indian-origin Leo Varadkar resigns as Ireland's prime minister in a surprise move The widely expected nomination by conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa came shortly after midnight on Thursday after the remaining ballots from abroad were counted by the electoral commission, giving Chega two additional seats, while the AD and the Socialists added just one each. Overall, the AD won 80 seats in the 230-seat legislature, which is expected to return next week, followed by the Socialists at 78 seats and Chega, which was founded just five years ago, with 50. "The AD won the election...(so) the president...decided to nominate Luis Montenegro as prime minister," the president's office said in a statement. The result underscores a political tilt to right-wing populism and a dwindling of Socialist governance across Europe, which is expected to result in gains for far-right parties in European elections in June. After being named premier, Montenegro told reporters the government would be sworn in on April 2. Within 10 days of that date must present its programme to parliament, which is automatically approved unless parliament holds a vote to reject it. Montenegro added that he would present his cabinet of ministers to Rebelo de Sousa next Thursday. Analysts expect an AD government will be allowed to take over, and they see the 2025 budget as its first test of survival toward the end of this year. A rejected budget could lead to a new election. Also Read | Vietnam president resigns abruptly, prompting concerns about stability Chega leader and former TV sports commentator Andre Ventura has threatened to vote against the bill and said the AD would be responsible for any political instability if it continues to ignore his party. But he also signalled support for at least some initial steps proposed by Montenegro. Such initiatives include higher wages and benefits for healthcare workers, police and teachers, and lower income taxes. Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos said on Tuesday it was "practically impossible" for his party to support AD's 2025 budget, but it was open to negotiating measures to help the flagging healthcare, education and security sectors.

Portugal's president names centre-right leader Montenegro as PM

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government.

With 99.1% of the vote counted, the AD won 79 seats in the 230-seat legislature, followed by the Socialists with 77 seats, prompting the latter to concede defeat.

Chega, meaning "enough", came third, quadrupling its parliamentary representation to 48 lawmakers after campaigning on a clean governance and anti-immigration platform.

Chega voters said before the poll that&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;was in a bad way and they wanted changes in housing, education, healthcare and justice in Western Europe's poorest country.

AD leader Luis Montenegro told reporters on Sunday that he expected President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to formally invite him to form a government.

Rebelo de Sousa, who will meet with political parties from Tuesday until March 20, told Expresso newspaper on Friday he would do everything he could to prevent Chega from gaining power. Those remarks drew criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral.

Chega's leader Andre Ventura told reporters the vote clearly showed that the country wants a government of the AD with Chega.

The outcome was broadly in line with pre-election opinion polls but the AD's victory was significantly smaller and Chega's growth was larger than predicted, political scientist Andre Azevedo Alves told Reuters.

Alves, a professor at Lisbon's Catolica University and St. Mary's University in London, added that the fragility of an AD government due to its reliance on either the PS or Chega to pass legislation made it unlikely to last for several years.

Javier Rouillet from rating agency DBRS Morningstar warned that if the new government was unable to pass legislation, another round of elections could be held later this year or in early 2025.

Chega's surge was boosted by widespread dissatisfaction with the mainstream parties and Ventura's communication skills, he said, factors that could help it garner even better results in the European Parliament (EP) elections.

"Political disaffection was brewing for a very long time," said political scientist Pedro Magalhaes, at the Lisbon's Institute of Social Sciences (ICS). "But there was no political supply to address this political demand."

Marina Costa Lobo, who heads ICS, said she believed Montenegro would keep his word and not strike a formal deal with Chega but there might be "piecemeal" agreements between the two going forward.

"It's difficult to predict Chega's behaviour because they're an anti-system party," she said, adding the far-right's success in&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;was a harbinger of what can be expected in the EP election in June.

'OUT OF THE SYSTEM'

Eurointelligence consultants said the result marked a new political chapter in&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;after alternate governance by two mainstream parties for the past 50 years.

"We don't know who'll be in charge of the country, the far-right has little or nothing to offer," PhD student Jorge Catanheira, 29, told Reuters.

The election result underscored a political tilt to the far right across Europe and a dwindling of Socialist governance.

Chega has since 2020 been part of the European Parliament's Identity &amp; Democracy group, which is expected to see gains in June.

Spain's far-right VOX and Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's co-ruling party Lega, congratulated Ventura.

Portugal's PSI stock index fell 0.3% at open, in line with a decline by European peers, before flattening out.

"The impact of the elections on the market turned out to be nil," XTB analysts said in a note.

Under Socialist leadership since 2015,&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;has grown at solid annual rates above 2%, except for the pandemic-induced slump of 2020, but many struggle to make ends meet due to low salaries and a housing crisis.

Voter turnout was 66.23%, the highest in nearly three decades.

Magalhaes said it was possible turnout reached such levels because voters who had been "out of the system" came back to support the radical right.

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government.

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government. With 99.1% of the vote counted, the AD won 79 seats in the 230-seat legislature, followed by the Socialists with 77 seats, prompting the latter to concede defeat. Chega, meaning "enough", came third, quadrupling its parliamentary representation to 48 lawmakers after campaigning on a clean governance and anti-immigration platform. Chega voters said before the poll that Portugal was in a bad way and they wanted changes in housing, education, healthcare and justice in Western Europe's poorest country. AD leader Luis Montenegro told reporters on Sunday that he expected President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to formally invite him to form a government. Rebelo de Sousa, who will meet with political parties from Tuesday until March 20, told Expresso newspaper on Friday he would do everything he could to prevent Chega from gaining power. Those remarks drew criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral. Chega's leader Andre Ventura told reporters the vote clearly showed that the country wants a government of the AD with Chega. The outcome was broadly in line with pre-election opinion polls but the AD's victory was significantly smaller and Chega's growth was larger than predicted, political scientist Andre Azevedo Alves told Reuters. Alves, a professor at Lisbon's Catolica University and St. Mary's University in London, added that the fragility of an AD government due to its reliance on either the PS or Chega to pass legislation made it unlikely to last for several years. Javier Rouillet from rating agency DBRS Morningstar warned that if the new government was unable to pass legislation, another round of elections could be held later this year or in early 2025. Chega's surge was boosted by widespread dissatisfaction with the mainstream parties and Ventura's communication skills, he said, factors that could help it garner even better results in the European Parliament (EP) elections. "Political disaffection was brewing for a very long time," said political scientist Pedro Magalhaes, at the Lisbon's Institute of Social Sciences (ICS). "But there was no political supply to address this political demand." Marina Costa Lobo, who heads ICS, said she believed Montenegro would keep his word and not strike a formal deal with Chega but there might be "piecemeal" agreements between the two going forward. "It's difficult to predict Chega's behaviour because they're an anti-system party," she said, adding the far-right's success in Portugal was a harbinger of what can be expected in the EP election in June. 'OUT OF THE SYSTEM' Eurointelligence consultants said the result marked a new political chapter in Portugal after alternate governance by two mainstream parties for the past 50 years. "We don't know who'll be in charge of the country, the far-right has little or nothing to offer," PhD student Jorge Catanheira, 29, told Reuters. The election result underscored a political tilt to the far right across Europe and a dwindling of Socialist governance. Chega has since 2020 been part of the European Parliament's Identity & Democracy group, which is expected to see gains in June. Spain's far-right VOX and Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's co-ruling party Lega, congratulated Ventura. Portugal's PSI stock index fell 0.3% at open, in line with a decline by European peers, before flattening out. "The impact of the elections on the market turned out to be nil," XTB analysts said in a note. Under Socialist leadership since 2015, Portugal has grown at solid annual rates above 2%, except for the pandemic-induced slump of 2020, but many struggle to make ends meet due to low salaries and a housing crisis. Voter turnout was 66.23%, the highest in nearly three decades. Magalhaes said it was possible turnout reached such levels because voters who had been "out of the system" came back to support the radical right.

Portugal’s centre-right prepares to rule, far-right warns of instability

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Portugal PM Luis Montenegro calls for confidence vote

Portugal PM-elect picks new cabinet

Portugal's president names centre-right leader Montenegro as PM

Portugal’s centre-right prepares to rule, far-right warns of instability