Portugal’s far-right Chega party has officially become the country’s main opposition party after the final vote tally from the 18 May legislative election confirmed its gains. The ultranationalist group, led by André Ventura, secured 60 seats in the 230-member parliament, overtaking the center-left Socialist Party (PS), which won 58.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) remains the largest bloc with 91 seats but fell short of a majority, prolonging political instability in a country that has seen three elections in as many years. The results mark a dramatic shift in Portugal’s political landscape, breaking decades of dominance by mainstream center-right and center-left parties.
Chega’s ascent reflects its rapid growth since its founding in 2019, when it held just one seat. Campaigning on anti-corruption rhetoric, stricter immigration controls, and economic reforms, the party capitalized on voter frustration over low wages, a housing crisis, and dissatisfaction with traditional parties. Overseas Portuguese communities—particularly in France, Luxembourg, the UK, and Brazil—backed Chega in large numbers, swayed by its promises to improve economic conditions for expatriates.
“This is a profound change in the Portuguese political system,” Ventura told supporters, pledging a “smooth and healthy regime change” and declaring that only those who had “robbed Portugal for 50 years” had reason to fear him.
The election dealt a blow to the Socialist Party, which lost ground to Chega across southern Portugal—including in long-held strongholds dating back to the 1974 Carnation Revolution. The PS, which held an absolute majority under Prime Minister António Costa as recently as March 2023, has struggled since his resignation amid a corruption scandal and subsequent appointment as European Council president.
The party is expected to elect former Interior Minister José Luís Carneiro as its new leader this weekend. Seen as a moderate untainted by scandal, Carneiro has signaled willingness to cooperate with Montenegro to keep Chega from gaining further influence.
Montenegro, who has ruled out any alliance with Chega, plans to form a minority government. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to formally appoint him after meeting party leaders on Thursday.
Chega’s rise aligns with broader far-right advances across Europe, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Rally. The party has allied with these groups while pushing hardline policies such as chemical castration for repeat sex offenders and a crackdown on immigration.
With local elections set for this fall, Chega is projected to expand its influence further, potentially winning control of up to 21 municipalities—including Sintra, Portugal’s second-largest city. The results underscore a deepening political realignment in a nation long defined by its post-dictatorship two-party system.