Portugal's conservatives win election as far-right surges
Send a link to a friend
[March 11, 2024]
By Sergio Goncalves, Catarina Demony and David Latona
LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won
Sunday's general election, its leader Luis Montenegro said, though it
was unclear if he could govern without the support from far-right Chega,
with whom he again refused to negotiate.
Chega's parliamentary representation more than quadrupled to at least 48
lawmakers in the 230-seat legislature, giving the combined right a
majority.
The result underscores a political tilt to the far right across Europe.
Portugal, which only returned to democracy after the fall of a fascist
dictatorship 50 years ago, had long been considered immune to the rise
of right-wing populism across the continent, which is expected to result
in gains for far-right parties in European elections in June.
Earlier, Montenegro's main rival, Pedro Nuno Santos, conceded defeat
after his left-leaning Socialist Party (PS), in power since 2015, came
in second by a razor-thin margin. He ruled out supporting the AD's
platform which includes across-the-board tax cuts.
"The AD won the election," Montenegro told a crowd of ecstatic
supporters in the early hours on Monday, adding that it was crucial for
parties in the new parliament to act responsibly and "comply with the
wish of the Portuguese people".
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa still has to formally invite the AD
leader to form a government, which Montenegro said he expected to
happen.
While reiterating his election promise not to rely on the right-wing
populists for support to govern, he expressed hope the PS and Chega "do
not form a negative alliance to prevent the government that the
Portuguese wanted".
The AD and its conservative allies in the insular Madeira region won a
total of at least 79 seats, ahead of the PS's 77.
Four seats were yet to be attributed after the final count of ballots
from abroad.
The PS had trailed the AD in most opinion polls since Socialist Prime
Minister Antonio Costa resigned in November amid a corruption
investigation.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Mar/11/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/031124PIX/news_e12.jpg)
Far right political party Chega leader Andre Ventura arrives to the
headquarters of the party after the first exit polls were announced,
during the general election in Lisbon, Portugal, March 10, 2024.
REUTERS/Pedro Rocha
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Mar/11/images/ads/current/bennet_lda_010722.png)
Santos said his party would now lead the opposition, which could not
be left in the hands of Chega.
The far-right party campaigned on an anti-establishment message,
vowing to sweep away corruption and expressing hostility to what it
sees as "excessive" immigration.
Chega leader Andre Ventura told reporters Sunday's vote "clearly
showed that the Portuguese want a government of the AD with Chega".
He earlier said Montenegro would be responsible for any political
instability if he continued to refuse to negotiate.
At the AD election night party, supporter Paula Medeiros said there
was "no doubt that instability will be constant".
The PS and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which helms the newly
created AD, have alternated in power since the fall of the
dictatorship in 1974.
"We have a society with no memory," lamented 21-year-old law student
and PS member Alexandra Ferreira, adding that the far-right's growth
made her "very sad".
Issues dominating the campaign in western Europe's poorest country
include a crippling housing crisis, low wages, sagging healthcare
and corruption, seen by many as endemic to the mainstream parties.
Still, under the Socialist leadership Portugal has grown at solid
annual rates above 2%, and posted budget surpluses of late, using
the cash to slash the public debt below 100% of GDP and winning
praise from Brussels and investors, who do not expect the AD to
abandon the path of fiscal prudence.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Catarina Demony, Writing by
Andrei Khalip and David Latona; Editing by Giles Elgood and Stephen
Coates)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |