According to affair around head of government: right-wing pressure clouds conservative victory in Portugal

A record -breaking right pressure overshadows the victory of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s conservatives in the early parliamentary election in Portugal. Just six years after the foundation, the right -wing populist party Chega (it is enough) became the second strongest force in the Lisbon “Assemble Da República”. Portuguese media speak of a “historical result”, of “disaster” and “uncertainty”. The TV station CMTV sees an “existential threat” for the traditional parties, the newspaper “El País” from the neighboring country of Spain even a “revolution”.

Montenegros Aliança Democrática (AD) has had almost 33 percent of the vote in the third new election since 2022 – around four points more than in the last election in March 2024.

The socialists (PS), who had ruled with an absolute majority a year ago, also get 58 seats with a little more votes than Chega. But: The four seats, which are still awarded after counting the foreign votes, traditionally go to the right -wing populists.

Two -party system “killed” – first “victim” among the socialists

“We write history. From now on nothing will be in Portugal as before,” Chega boss André Ventura – baptized by some media “Hurricane” – called under the deafening cheers of his followers. The 42 -year -old legal professor, who repeatedly rushes against minorities, promised that “the two -party system prevailing for 50 years was killed” – and will soon also be presenting the government. After all, Chega has increased from 1.3 to seven percent since 2019, then 18 percent and now to over 22.5 percent.

One of Joy, the other sorry: PS boss Pedro Nuno Santos announced after the worst result of his party since 1987 in the late evening that he would give the chair. After the resignation of the then head of government António Costa, he had only held it since the beginning of 2024.

There is also a fire wall in Portugal

There is more joy with the AD. But the absolute majority were missed again. Montenegro had recently still excluded a collaboration with the right -wing populists. The fire wall is as stable on the Tejo River as in Germany. Unlike in Germany, however, a coalition between the two traditional parties near the middle is considered excluded. An unstable minority government is therefore at risk of the holiday country.

The third new parliamentary election since 2022 had become necessary because Montenegro had significantly lost a vote of no confidence in March. The 52 -year -old lawyer had been driven by the opposition due to opaque business of a family business. Everything now indicates that the affair has badly harm him.

Many important projects are on ice

But probably the country: since Montenegro’s bankruptcy in parliament, Portugal has only had a managing government with limited powers. Several important projects are on ice. Including the privatization of the airline TAP, in which Lufthansa is also interested.

The AD victory promises continuity. However, as in 2024, the formation of the new government should take some time. In order to be appointed candidate for the office of head of government by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Montenegro must receive the approval of several parties, including the socialists. The only possible coalition partner is the liberal Iniciatativa Liberal, but it took fourth distance.

What exactly triggered the political crisis?

The allegations against Montenegro are about the Spinumviva company, which was founded in 2021. The consulting company is said to have benefited from the position of the prime minister to sign contracts with private companies. The opposition spoke of conflicts of interest.

Even if the voter apparently didn’t care about the affair and the focus was on topics such as immigration and crime in the election campaign: this affair for Montenegro is probably far from being over. It can be assumed that the left -wing opposition will continue to insist on a parliamentary investigation commission. After an anonymous advertisement, the public prosecutor also deals with the case.