The Democratic Alliance narrowly outperformed the incumbent Socialist Party in tough numbers that show the rise of the far-right.
Luis Montenegro, leader of Portugal's centre-right opposition Democratic Union (AD), has declared victory in the country's snap general election after a close race against the incumbent Socialist Party.
Montenegro declared victory early Monday, shortly after Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos conceded defeat.
AD and the Madeira conservatives won a total of at least 77 seats in the 230-member parliament, ahead of PS's 74 seats. The far-right Chega came in third place with 46 seats, with 11 seats still to be determined after the final count.
“It seems inevitable that AD won the election and the Socialist Party lost,” Montenegro's president told excited supporters gathered in the capital Lisbon.
Sunday's snap election, triggered by the sudden resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa amid a corruption investigation, saw a surge in support for Chega, which positions itself as an alternative to the two parties that have long dominated Portuguese politics. It was a feature.
It comes against a backdrop of low wages and high living costs (made worse by soaring inflation and interest rates last year), a housing crisis and the collapse of public health care.
Despite the close result, Montenegro said it would keep its election promise not to rely on Chega to govern. He said it was vital that the parties in the new parliament act responsibly and “respond to the wishes of the Portuguese people”.
Chega leader Andre Ventura, a former law professor and TV soccer pundit, has outlined some of his party's most controversial proposals, including introducing chemical castration and life sentences for some sex offenders. He said he was prepared to withdraw it if the party was able to do so.will join a governing alliance with other centre-right parties
