Portugal’s Political Landscape Shifts: Moderate Conservatives Triumph Amidst Rising Far-Right Influence

The far-right Chega party has disrupted Portugal’s traditional two-party landscape by tapping into rising anti-immigrant sentiments. In a recent election, Chega, led by André Ventura, achieved a record vote share, closely trailing the Socialist Party, with results reported from most of the 230 parliamentary seats.

This shift places Portugal alongside other Western European nations, like Germany and Sweden, where far-right parties hold significant power. In fact, in the last two years, far-right parties in the Netherlands and Austria claimed top positions in elections.

Ventura declared, “The two-party system in Portugal has come to an end.” However, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, leader of the governing centre-right coalition, has distanced himself from Chega, aiming for a minority government without their support.

Montenegro’s party, the Democratic Alliance (AD), saw a slight increase in votes, rising to 32.1%. This followed a scandal leading to his government’s collapse over allegations related to a business conflict of interest. Despite this turmoil, AD outperformed its last election results from 14 months ago.

The Socialist Party, although still a close competitor, faced its worst election performance since 1987. Its leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, resigned after the party tied with Chega, each securing 58 parliamentary seats.

A notable trend adds complexity to this political shift: Portugal has seen its foreign-born population rise dramatically from 4% in 2017 to 15% today. In response, Montenegro’s government tightened immigration policies, moving away from the former administration’s “open doors” approach. This shift reflects a growing unease among Portuguese citizens about immigration.

Dr. Marina Costa Lobo from the Institute of Social Sciences in Lisbon notes that Chega’s appeal extends beyond traditional conservative voters. This election saw Chega attract people from previously left-leaning areas as well, including those with lower educational levels and income. In other European countries, this demographic often shifts to the far right.

Montenegro emphasized the need for dialogue, urging political parties to prioritize the national interest. Meanwhile, the future remains uncertain as the details of four undeclared seats, which belong to overseas voters, will be announced soon, potentially influencing the balance of power.

This election reveals a significant moment in Portugal’s politics, mirroring broader trends in Europe where far-right parties increasingly gain traction due to anxieties surrounding immigration and economic challenges.

For further exploration of this topic, the Financial Times has insightful articles on political shifts in Europe that provide deeper context.

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