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(Bloomberg) — Portugal\u2019s Socialists conceded defeat in a parliamentary election on Sunday which saw the far-right emerge as the biggest winner.<\/p>\n
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With nearly 99% of votes counted, the center-right AD coalition had secured 77 seats against 75 seats for the Socialists.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything indicates that the result won\u2019t enable the Socialist Party to be the most voted party,\u201d Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos said. He congratulated the AD for their election victory.<\/p>\n
Far-right party Chega recorded the biggest jump in support compared with the 2022 election – it has already won 46 seats, almost quadrupling its current tally. This means the AD would be able to control parliament with the backing of Chega.<\/p>\n
Andre Ventura, who founded Chega in 2019, has grown the party from a one-lawmaker outfit into the third largest parliamentary force. He said Sunday that it\u2019s clear AD and Chega have an outright majority and he should be allowed to negotiate a role in a government led by the center-right. AD\u2019s leader Luis Montenegro has maintained an acrimonious relationship with Ventura and ruled out any agreement with the party.<\/p>\n
The early election was called after Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa quit in November amid a probe into alleged influence peddling.<\/p>\n
(All times are Lisbon time)<\/p>\n
Climate Protesters Target PSD\u2019s Venue (10:58 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Climate protesters threw red paint on the Epic Sana Hotel, where the Partido Social Democrata (PSD) is holding an election night watch party during the general election in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Portugal\u2019s center-right AD coalition is set to win over its Socialist opponents in parliamentary elections, according to an exit poll, setting the stage for a minority government having to rely on the support of smaller parties to govern.<\/p>\n
Spanish Far-Right Party Congratulates Chega\u2019s Ventura (10:35 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spanish far-right party Vox, congratulated Chega\u2019s Ventura for a \u201cgreat result,\u201d in a post on X.<\/p>\n
As with Vox in Spain, the far right in Portugal remains the third-biggest party in parliament, still locked out of the top two positions.<\/p>\n
High Voter Turnout (8:55 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Voter turnout on Sunday is set to be the highest for a parliamentary election in about 15 years, the RTP exit poll indicated. The number of Portuguese voting exceeded that of the past two elections in 2019 and 2022, both won by the Socialists.<\/p>\n
Chega Insists It Wants a Role in Government (8:51 p.m.)<\/p>\n
Chega leader Ventura hailed what he says is a \u201chistoric\u201d result for the party, having received enough voter support to allow him to negotiate a role in the next government. \u201cToday the Portuguese spoke out and clearly said that they want a two-party government \u2013 Chega and AD,\u201d Ventura said in comments broadcast by RTP television. Together, the two parties would effectively control parliament.<\/p>\n
However, a coalition looks unlikely. Before the vote, AD leader Montenegro rejected any alliance with Chega. In a televised debate on Feb. 12, Montenegro said Ventura stood for \u201cxenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic\u201d ideas and represented the \u201cdegree zero of politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minority Government Will Have to Make Concessions (8:38 p.m.)<\/p>\n
The lack of an outright majority leaves Portugal in a \u201cmurky situation,\u201d with a government dependent on support from other parties in parliament to govern, says Marina Costa Lobo, professor of political science at the University of Lisbon.<\/p>\n
The AD has ruled out an alliance with Chega, meaning it will have to get backing from the Socialist Party, something Costa Lobo says will complicate major decisions like the annual budget. \u201cWe are in a dire situation where concessions and compromises will have to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n
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