Exit, Stage Right

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Portugal’s general election Sunday gave the far-right a boost, mirroring a trend across Europe, as the ruling Socialist Party conceded defeat to its center-right rivals despite inconclusive results, the New York Times reported.

For eight years, the Socialist Party governed a country where the presence of far-right parties was minimal – an exception in Europe. But in Sunday’s vote, the right-wing Chega party rose to third place behind the Socialists and the center-right Democratic Alliance, jumping from a 7 percent take in 2022 to 18 percent this time.

While the finished tally in mainland Portugal was not known until late Monday, showing the Democratic Alliance pip the Socialists with 29.5 percent against 28.6 percent, already by Sunday evening Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos admitted his party had lost the election.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance leader Luis Montenegro, set to become Portugal’s next prime minister, said the results did not allow him to form a majority government.

The election was triggered by the collapse of the government of outgoing Socialist Prime Minister António Costa following a series of corruption scandals. Costa resigned in November amid a probe into alleged graft in lithium and hydrogen deals.

His party’s popularity plummeted amid the scandals and a cost of living crisis. Chega, which means “Enough” in Portuguese, successfully seized on these grievances with its anti-establishment stance. Analysts said the party benefited from a protest vote and a desire for change, the promise of tax cuts and curbs on immigration.

Nonetheless, the party also drew criticism for being racist and xenophobic.

It is the first time the far-right gained political relevance in Portugal since the end of the Estado Novo military dictatorship almost 50 years ago. In its campaign, Chega used the Estado Novo’s “God, country, family, and work” slogan, Politico noted.

Meanwhile, Montenegro ruled out an alliance with Chega. He is set to lead a minority government, which analysts said could lead to further instability in parliament.

As Portugal has to deploy a recovery plan worth billions of dollars of European Union funds, Montenegro’s first test would be the vote on the 2025 budget this fall. A rejection could trigger another snap election, just like in 2021.