Portugal’s center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) was poised to win the most votes in Sunday's parliamentary election, but well short of a full majority, three exit polls showed, putting the AD in the 27.6%-33% range, just ahead of the incumbent Socialists.
The polls published by the three main television channels SIC, RTP and TVI showed that all right-wing parties combined, including the far-right Chega, were likely to secure an outright majority. Chega was likely to win 14%-21.6%, a large jump from its 7.2% in the last election in January 2022.
Political analysts had said that the far-right Chega party, which has been growing in clout, could play a kingmaker role in post-election talks.
However, the AD has so far ruled out any agreement with Chega, which could make for an unstable government.
The polls put the Socialist Party in the 24.2% to 29.5% range.
Issues dominating the campaign included a crippling housing crisis, low wages, sagging healthcare, and corruption, seen by many as endemic to the mainstream parties.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and closed at 7 p.m. in mainland Portugal. In the Azores archipelago, polling ended at 8 p.m.
Turnout at 1 p.m. was 25.21%, slightly up from 23.27% recorded at the same time during the previous election in January 2022, the Interior Ministry said. Results are expected around midnight.
“I hope life gets better than what it is now,” 86-year-old Diamantino Vieira told Reuters as he waited to vote at a polling station in the northern city of Espinho, where Luís Montenegro, who is at the helm of the Democratic Alliance (AD) of right-leaning parties, also cast his ballot.
The AD, which comprises Montenegro’s PSD and two smaller conservative parties, had been leading in most opinion polls but analysts said it could struggle to govern without Chega’s support. Montenegro has so far ruled out any deals with the radical populists, who want a government role.
Support for Chega’s anti-establishment message
Surveys suggested support for Chega’s anti-establishment message, its vow to sweep away corruption, and hostility to what it sees as “excessive” immigration has roughly doubled since the 2022 election, though it remains in third place.
On Friday, conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told the Expresso newspaper he would do everything he can to prevent Chega from gaining power, drawing criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral.
Political scientist António Costa Pinto of Lisbon University said Portugal “has entered the dynamic of many European democracies,” in which the center-right is challenged by having a radical party to its right consolidated in third place.
A potential AD minority government, even supported by the smaller center-right Liberal Initiative, would likely need votes from Chega to pass legislation, making it relatively fragile as Chega could topple it at any point.
More than 10 million Portuguese citizens were eligible to vote in the elections.
Political analysts had said that the far-right Chega party, which has been growing in clout, could play a kingmaker role in post-election talks.
However, the AD has so far ruled out any agreement with Chega, which could make for an unstable government.
The polls put the Socialist Party in the 24.2% to 29.5% range.
Portuguese voters headed to the polls, facing a choice between switching to a center-right government or keeping the center-left in power.🇵🇹#Portugal, legislative election results:
— World Elects (@ElectsWorld) March 10, 2024
50,98 % counted:
AD (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM): 33 %
PS: 28,8 %
CH: 19,2 %
BE: 3 %
IL: 3 %
CDU: 2,4 %
ADN: 2,1 %
L: 1,5 %
PAN: 1,2 %
...#legislativas2024 pic.twitter.com/xjwG8vfaRx
Issues dominating the campaign included a crippling housing crisis, low wages, sagging healthcare, and corruption, seen by many as endemic to the mainstream parties.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and closed at 7 p.m. in mainland Portugal. In the Azores archipelago, polling ended at 8 p.m.
Turnout at 1 p.m. was 25.21%, slightly up from 23.27% recorded at the same time during the previous election in January 2022, the Interior Ministry said. Results are expected around midnight.
“I hope life gets better than what it is now,” 86-year-old Diamantino Vieira told Reuters as he waited to vote at a polling station in the northern city of Espinho, where Luís Montenegro, who is at the helm of the Democratic Alliance (AD) of right-leaning parties, also cast his ballot.
The AD, which comprises Montenegro’s PSD and two smaller conservative parties, had been leading in most opinion polls but analysts said it could struggle to govern without Chega’s support. Montenegro has so far ruled out any deals with the radical populists, who want a government role.
Support for Chega’s anti-establishment message
Surveys suggested support for Chega’s anti-establishment message, its vow to sweep away corruption, and hostility to what it sees as “excessive” immigration has roughly doubled since the 2022 election, though it remains in third place.
On Friday, conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told the Expresso newspaper he would do everything he can to prevent Chega from gaining power, drawing criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral.
Political scientist António Costa Pinto of Lisbon University said Portugal “has entered the dynamic of many European democracies,” in which the center-right is challenged by having a radical party to its right consolidated in third place.
A potential AD minority government, even supported by the smaller center-right Liberal Initiative, would likely need votes from Chega to pass legislation, making it relatively fragile as Chega could topple it at any point.
More than 10 million Portuguese citizens were eligible to vote in the elections.
Source: Reuters
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