Portugal prepares for snap legislative election on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Following the collapse of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's minority government, on March 11, after corruption allegations, which led to a no-confidence vote.&nbsp;
Luis Montenegro has been in office for 11 months, he was elected with 80 seats in last year's election. Similar fate appeared to the socialist government of Antonio Costa in 2024. Portugal is in a state of political uncertainty for second time in last three year.&nbsp;
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<h2>Key contenders&nbsp;</h2>
Acoording to various poll results Portugal is again heading for a coalition government. The key competition is between Luis Montenegro's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) and Nuno Santos' Socialist Party. Last time around AD secured 80 out of 230 seats falling short of the majority mark.
The recent polls suggest AD will improve its number, projecting it at 34 per cent but still falling short of a clear majority. It is expected to form a coalition with Liberal Initative which is projected at 7 per cent.
"All indicators point to us being on the right track, but nothing is guaranteed," said Montenegro at a political rally on Friday.
Leading next in the bout is centre-left Socialist Party (PS) led by Pedro Nuno Santos which secured 78 seats in 2024 elections currently trailing at around 26 per cent in polls. Pedro Nuno Santos's Socialist Party is plagued with internal division and stagnation. They are looking to make an alliance with Left Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and LIVRE to mount a serious challenge.
The resurgence of far-right Chega Party is a tale for this election. Led by Andre Ventura it is projected at 19 per cent. It shows the growing concern around immigration, crime and public services.
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<h2>Key Issues&nbsp;</h2>
This election comes at a time when the nation is suffering from inflation, severe surge in house prices, uncertain future of public health services and immigration issue. The last two government from the two major parties AD and PS both had a corruption scandal which lead to a mistrust among public and a state of dysfunctional elite in the nation.&nbsp;
The campaign was dominated by the corruption scandal of Montenegro over a consultancy firm &ldquo;Spinumviva&rdquo; which is drawing paychecks from the Government and its clients. However Montenegro seemed defiant insisting his innocence, he claimed he had not broken any law as only his wife and sons are shareholders, he transferred all the share to them before he became the Prime Minister.
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&ldquo;Under Portuguese civil law, even if it was possible to sell shares to someone you&rsquo;re married to, you&rsquo;d still be a joint owner of them, and, therefore, still able to profit from them,&rdquo; said political commentator Carmo Afonso.&nbsp;
The incumbent Luis Montenegro is positioning Democratic Alliance as a reformist and 'responsible alternative' compared to the hard right rhetoric of Chega Party. His campaign promises are a balance of economic growth and strict immigration control. On the other Nuno Santos is promising for a more expansive government welfare plan such as increased investment in health care and housing.
Regardless of the issues various polls indicate a clear majority is unlikely. Portugese population are looking forward to another period of complex coalition.
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Polls hint that a coalition government is likely, with an alliance between the Democratic Alliance and  Liberal Initiatives to lead the race to form the government.World

Portugal prepares for snap legislative election on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Following the collapse of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's minority government, on March 11, after corruption allegations, which led to a no-confidence vote. Luis Montenegro has been in office for 11 months, he was elected with 80 seats in last year's election. Similar fate appeared to the socialist government of Antonio Costa in 2024. Portugal is in a state of political uncertainty for second time in last three year. Also read: 'Dangerous, deadly cancerous tumor': Iran's Khamenei bashes 'Zionist regime', calls Israel a source of war, corruption Key contenders Acoording to various poll results Portugal is again heading for a coalition government. The key competition is between Luis Montenegro's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) and Nuno Santos' Socialist Party. Last time around AD secured 80 out of 230 seats falling short of the majority mark. The recent polls suggest AD will improve its number, projecting it at 34 per cent but still falling short of a clear majority. It is expected to form a coalition with Liberal Initative which is projected at 7 per cent. "All indicators point to us being on the right track, but nothing is guaranteed," said Montenegro at a political rally on Friday. Leading next in the bout is centre-left Socialist Party (PS) led by Pedro Nuno Santos which secured 78 seats in 2024 elections currently trailing at around 26 per cent in polls. Pedro Nuno Santos's Socialist Party is plagued with internal division and stagnation. They are looking to make an alliance with Left Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and LIVRE to mount a serious challenge. The resurgence of far-right Chega Party is a tale for this election. Led by Andre Ventura it is projected at 19 per cent. It shows the growing concern around immigration, crime and public services. Also read: Three Iranians charged with suspected espionage in UK Key Issues This election comes at a time when the nation is suffering from inflation, severe surge in house prices, uncertain future of public health services and immigration issue. The last two government from the two major parties AD and PS both had a corruption scandal which lead to a mistrust among public and a state of dysfunctional elite in the nation. The campaign was dominated by the corruption scandal of Montenegro over a consultancy firm “Spinumviva” which is drawing paychecks from the Government and its clients. However Montenegro seemed defiant insisting his innocence, he claimed he had not broken any law as only his wife and sons are shareholders, he transferred all the share to them before he became the Prime Minister. Also read: 'A lot of good things to happen in Gaza over the next month,' Trump “Under Portuguese civil law, even if it was possible to sell shares to someone you’re married to, you’d still be a joint owner of them, and, therefore, still able to profit from them,” said political commentator Carmo Afonso. The incumbent Luis Montenegro is positioning Democratic Alliance as a reformist and 'responsible alternative' compared to the hard right rhetoric of Chega Party. His campaign promises are a balance of economic growth and strict immigration control. On the other Nuno Santos is promising for a more expansive government welfare plan such as increased investment in health care and housing. Regardless of the issues various polls indicate a clear majority is unlikely. Portugese population are looking forward to another period of complex coalition. Also read: Can Pakistan use F-16s against India? Here’s what the rules say

Portugal goes for snap election on Sunday: Who are the contenders and what to expect?

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

Portuguese people will cast their ballots on Sunday in a snap election. The new vote was triggered by socialist leader António Costa's resignation last November as prime minister over a corruption probe. The incumbent socialist party has been in power since 2015.

Portugal to hold snap national polls on March 10

Voting for Portuguese parliamentary election started on Sunday morning (local time). There was no clarity as to early signs of who would be the winner. Voter turnout was predicted to be low amid rise in Covid infections.

Polling stations opened at 0800 GMT

At the University of Lisbon, staff outnumbered mostly elderly voters, with signs on the walls asking people to wear a mask, observe social distancing and to use their own pen.

Some even wore gloves for extra protection.

"I have been vaccinated, and I haven't had COVID yet... But I felt very safe," said Maria Odete, 73, adding that the election race appeared too close to produce a stable government capable of bringing positive change.

Those infected have been given permission by the government to leave isolation and cast ballots on person. It has been recommended that they cast their votes in the last hour before polling stations close at 1900 GMT

Over a tenth of Portugal's 10 million people are estimated to be isolating because of COVID-19. As in many European countries, infections have spiked lately, stoked by the Omicron variant, although widespread vaccination has kept deaths and hospitalisations lower than in earlier waves.

The election is wide open as the centre-left ruling Socialists have lost much of their lead in opinion polls to the main opposition party, the centre-right Social Democrats, and neither is likely to win a stable majority.

Low turnout could make projections unreliable, analysts say. Abstention was already record at 51% in the 2019 general election before the pandemic.

The vote, called in November after parliament rejected the minority Socialist government's budget bill, is likely to worsen political volatility and could produce a short-lived government, unless one of the main parties manages to cobble together a working alliance, which could be a daunting task.

"We want more stability but I don't think that's what is going to happen. I think we'll have one or two years of instability," said Mario Henriques, 42, as he walked out of the polling station in a rush, wearing sports clothes.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Voting for Portuguese parliamentary election started on Sunday morning (local time). There was no clarity as to early signs of who would be the winner. Voter turnout was predicted to be low amid rise in Covid infections.

Voting for Portuguese parliamentary election started on Sunday morning (local time). There was no clarity as to early signs of who would be the winner. Voter turnout was predicted to be low amid rise in Covid infections. Polling stations opened at 0800 GMT At the University of Lisbon, staff outnumbered mostly elderly voters, with signs on the walls asking people to wear a mask, observe social distancing and to use their own pen. Some even wore gloves for extra protection. "I have been vaccinated, and I haven't had COVID yet... But I felt very safe," said Maria Odete, 73, adding that the election race appeared too close to produce a stable government capable of bringing positive change. Those infected have been given permission by the government to leave isolation and cast ballots on person. It has been recommended that they cast their votes in the last hour before polling stations close at 1900 GMT Over a tenth of Portugal's 10 million people are estimated to be isolating because of COVID-19. As in many European countries, infections have spiked lately, stoked by the Omicron variant, although widespread vaccination has kept deaths and hospitalisations lower than in earlier waves. The election is wide open as the centre-left ruling Socialists have lost much of their lead in opinion polls to the main opposition party, the centre-right Social Democrats, and neither is likely to win a stable majority. Low turnout could make projections unreliable, analysts say. Abstention was already record at 51% in the 2019 general election before the pandemic. The vote, called in November after parliament rejected the minority Socialist government's budget bill, is likely to worsen political volatility and could produce a short-lived government, unless one of the main parties manages to cobble together a working alliance, which could be a daunting task. "We want more stability but I don't think that's what is going to happen. I think we'll have one or two years of instability," said Mario Henriques, 42, as he walked out of the polling station in a rush, wearing sports clothes. (With inputs from agencies)

Portuguese vote in election marked by Covid

Parties and leaders contesting in Portugal's snap election

Portugal's incumbent Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialists won a general election marked by low turnout on Sunday after presiding over a period of solid economic growth following years of austerity.

The Socialist Party (PS) took 36.65 per cent of the vote, followed by the centre-right Social Democrats (PSD) with 27.9 per cent, according to near-total results from the interior ministry.

That left the PS, which has governed for the past four years with the support of two smaller hard-left parties, with 106 seats in the 230-seat parliament, up from 86 seats in the outgoing assembly and just ten seats short of an outright majority. Four seats still must be attributed according to the results of votes cast abroad.

The election bucks the trend of declining centre-left fortunes and the rise of far-right populist forces seen elsewhere in Europe.

A new far-right formation, Chega! or "That's Enough!" entered parliament for the first time but it won a single seat.

Turnout was just 54.5 per cent, the lowest level for a general election since Portugal returned to democracy after a decades-long right-wing dictatorship was toppled in 1974.

The question now is who Costa, 58, a former Lisbon mayor, will pick as his allies.

After the last general election in 2015 in which the PS finished second, Costa convinced the Communists and the Left Bloc to support a minority Socialist government, an unprecedented alliance that foes nicknamed the "geringonca", or odd contraption.

'Stability is essential'

During his victory speech Costa said he wanted to "renew this experience" of an alliance with the hard-left.

"The election shows that the Portuguese like the 'geringonca', they like this political solution," he said as supporters chanted "Victory!".

"Stability is essential for Portugal's international credibility and for attracting investors. The PS will strive to find solutions that ensure this stability for the entire legislature."

Both the Left Bloc, which won 19 seats just as in the last election, and the Communists, which won 12 seats, five fewer than in the last polls, said they were willing to once again back the Socialists.

A strengthened PS has more alternatives to get laws approved in parliament, political analyst Pedro Norton told public television RTP.

"This is an incentive for it to govern alone, by searching for ad hoc agreements" to govern instead of forming a formal agreement, he added.

The election gave Costa another potential governing partner as the upstart People-Animals-Nature party (PAN) which has backed his budgets in the past won four seats, up from just one.

'Live more comfortably'

After coming to power in 2015, Costa undid some of the unpopular austerity measures introduced by the previous PSD-led government in return for a 78-billion-euro ($85 billion) international bailout that kept finances afloat after Portugal was clobbered by the eurozone debt crisis.

Taking advantage of the global economic recovery, he reversed cuts to public sector wages and pensions while still managing to bring the budget deficit down to nearly zero this year -- the lowest level since Portugal's return to democracy in 1974.

On his watch Portugal's economic growth was higher than the European Union average in recent years -- 2.4 per cent in 2018 -- while the jobless rate fell to 6.4 per cent, the level before the debt crisis, but critics complain of low salaries, job insecurity and soaring property prices amid a tourism boom.

Retired municipal worker Antonio Tavares, 76, said he voted for the Socialists because the government raised pensions by 50-100 euros ($55-110) per month.

"It's not a lot, it should be more, but that allows one to live more comfortably," he said after casting his ballot in Lisbon.

The PS had enjoyed a double-digit lead over the PSD for many months but the gap between Portugal's two main parties shrunk in the final stretch of the campaign, especially after a scandal concerning former defence minister Jose Azeredo Lopes resurged.

Lopes was charged last week with abuse of power and denial of justice over his role in the alleged cover-up of an arms theft from a military depot in June 2017.

Portugal's incumbent Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialists won a general election marked by low turnout on Sunday after presiding over a period of solid economic growth following years of austerity.

Portugal's incumbent Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialists won a general election marked by low turnout on Sunday after presiding over a period of solid economic growth following years of austerity. The Socialist Party (PS) took 36.65 per cent of the vote, followed by the centre-right Social Democrats (PSD) with 27.9 per cent, according to near-total results from the interior ministry. That left the PS, which has governed for the past four years with the support of two smaller hard-left parties, with 106 seats in the 230-seat parliament, up from 86 seats in the outgoing assembly and just ten seats short of an outright majority. Four seats still must be attributed according to the results of votes cast abroad. The election bucks the trend of declining centre-left fortunes and the rise of far-right populist forces seen elsewhere in Europe. A new far-right formation, Chega! or "That's Enough!" entered parliament for the first time but it won a single seat. Turnout was just 54.5 per cent, the lowest level for a general election since Portugal returned to democracy after a decades-long right-wing dictatorship was toppled in 1974. The question now is who Costa, 58, a former Lisbon mayor, will pick as his allies. After the last general election in 2015 in which the PS finished second, Costa convinced the Communists and the Left Bloc to support a minority Socialist government, an unprecedented alliance that foes nicknamed the "geringonca", or odd contraption. 'Stability is essential' During his victory speech Costa said he wanted to "renew this experience" of an alliance with the hard-left. "The election shows that the Portuguese like the 'geringonca', they like this political solution," he said as supporters chanted "Victory!". "Stability is essential for Portugal's international credibility and for attracting investors. The PS will strive to find solutions that ensure this stability for the entire legislature." Both the Left Bloc, which won 19 seats just as in the last election, and the Communists, which won 12 seats, five fewer than in the last polls, said they were willing to once again back the Socialists. A strengthened PS has more alternatives to get laws approved in parliament, political analyst Pedro Norton told public television RTP. "This is an incentive for it to govern alone, by searching for ad hoc agreements" to govern instead of forming a formal agreement, he added. The election gave Costa another potential governing partner as the upstart People-Animals-Nature party (PAN) which has backed his budgets in the past won four seats, up from just one. 'Live more comfortably' After coming to power in 2015, Costa undid some of the unpopular austerity measures introduced by the previous PSD-led government in return for a 78-billion-euro ($85 billion) international bailout that kept finances afloat after Portugal was clobbered by the eurozone debt crisis. Taking advantage of the global economic recovery, he reversed cuts to public sector wages and pensions while still managing to bring the budget deficit down to nearly zero this year -- the lowest level since Portugal's return to democracy in 1974. On his watch Portugal's economic growth was higher than the European Union average in recent years -- 2.4 per cent in 2018 -- while the jobless rate fell to 6.4 per cent, the level before the debt crisis, but critics complain of low salaries, job insecurity and soaring property prices amid a tourism boom. Retired municipal worker Antonio Tavares, 76, said he voted for the Socialists because the government raised pensions by 50-100 euros ($55-110) per month. "It's not a lot, it should be more, but that allows one to live more comfortably," he said after casting his ballot in Lisbon. The PS had enjoyed a double-digit lead over the PSD for many months but the gap between Portugal's two main parties shrunk in the final stretch of the campaign, especially after a scandal concerning former defence minister Jose Azeredo Lopes resurged. Lopes was charged last week with abuse of power and denial of justice over his role in the alleged cover-up of an arms theft from a military depot in June 2017.

Portugal's Socialists win re-election