Portugal’s Ruling Party Wins; Faces Minority Government

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    In Lisbon, Portugal, the political landscape appears set for continuity of a minority government after the center-right Democratic Alliance secured victory in the country’s recent general election. Despite this triumph, the Alliance failed to achieve a parliamentary majority, with the election characterized by a notable rise in support for the far-right populist party, Chega.

    The leader of the Democratic Alliance, Luis Montenegro, who is also the current Prime Minister, expressed his willingness to dialogue with other political entities to seek potential solutions for governance. This was Portugal’s third general election in as many years, ending hopes of an end to one of the country’s longest periods of political instability in recent history.

    Chega’s increasing popularity, driven by its focus on tightening immigration controls and tackling corruption, suggests that it might emerge as the second-largest party, a position traditionally held by the center-left Socialists. As of the latest count, with 99.2% of votes tallied, the Democratic Alliance claimed at least 89 seats out of 230 in the National Assembly. The party operated as a minority government after garnering 80 seats the previous year but was overthrown by a confidence vote earlier this year.

    Montenegro is open to alliances, stating that all political factions should prioritize national interests. Seven smaller parties also secured representation in this round of elections. Despite lacking a majority, the Democratic Alliance could attempt to govern as a minority once again by seeking support from smaller parties, although this appears uncertain and leaves them vulnerable to opposition challenges.

    Public dissatisfaction with the main political parties has resulted in a fragmented landscape, complicating consensus on critical national issues like immigration, housing, and living costs. Chega’s rapid growth in popularity is evident, with their seat count rising from 50 to at least 58, possibly overtaking the Socialists as the second most prominent political group in Portugal.

    Having first contested an election just six years ago with only one seat, Chega has capitalized on frustrations with traditional parties. Its leader, Andre Ventura, a former lawyer and soccer pundit, has showcased nationalist rhetoric under the campaign banner “Save Portugal.” Ventura regards this electoral outcome as a significant victory for Chega and expresses a willingness to cooperate with the Democratic Alliance to ensure political stability.

    Historically, the Social Democrats and the Socialist Party have alternated in power over the last half-century. However, the Socialists faced potentially their poorest performance since 1987, also securing 58 seats, prompting party leader Pedro Nuno Santos to resign.

    The center-right alliance led opinion polls prior to the election. It previously succumbed to a parliamentary confidence vote, triggered by alleged conflicts of interest involving Prime Minister Montenegro’s family law firm. Although Montenegro has refuted any wrongdoing, these allegations contributed to the Alliance’s loss and led to the premature election.

    Portuguese politics have been marred by numerous corruption scandals lately, nurturing Chega’s stance against official misconduct. Yet, the party also faced scrutiny over allegations against its own members, such as the purported theft of airport luggage and forgery, leading to resignations.

    A significant aspect of Chega’s appeal lies in its demand for stricter immigration policies, resonating with many Portuguese citizens. Immigration has dramatically increased, with over 1.5 million legal immigrants in the country, a trend partly fueled by Brazil’s and Asia’s contributions to Portugal’s workforce in tourism and agriculture.

    An expulsion of approximately 18,000 unauthorized foreigners was announced just before the election, perceived by some as an attempt to sway votes from Chega. Pedro Nuno Santos criticized this move as an emulation of U.S. President Trump’s immigration policies.

    Additionally, housing has emerged as a heated topic, with soaring property prices and rental costs over the last decade attributed to an influx of skilled foreign professionals, escalating for many domestic residents. The National Statistics Institute reported a 9% rise in house prices and a significant climb in rents around Lisbon, highlighting the extent of the crisis.

    Coupled with Portugal being one of Western Europe’s less affluent countries, where the average annual salary hovers around 1,200 euros ($1,340) before tax, these issues underscore the challenges faced by the next government.