In the recent general elections held on Sunday, the centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) of Portugal emerged victorious, according to the party’s leader, Luis Montenegro. However, the question of whether he could form a government without seeking support from the far-right Chega party, which he has constantly denied negotiating with, remains unanswered. There has been a notable increase, more than fourfold, in Chega’s representation in the 230-seat legislature with a minimum of 48 seats. This gives the combined right a distinct majority.
This shift towards the far right is reflective of a broader political progression in Europe. Though right-wing populism had previously not taken root in Portugal, a country that only 50 years ago regained democracy following the collapse of fascist rule, the expectations are high for far-right parties to make significant gains in the impending European elections in June.
Montenegro’s main political opponent, Pedro Nuno Santos of the left-leaning Socialist Party (SP), admitted to defeat after securing second place by the slimmest of margins. Santos’s party has been in power since 2015 but he has dismissed the idea of supporting the platform of the AD, which advocates for tax reductions across the board.
In the early hours of Monday, Montenegro addressed a jubilant crowd, confirming AD’s victory in the elections. He added that it was imperative for the newly-elected parliament to act responsibly and adhere to the desires of the Portuguese public.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is yet to formally invite Montenegro to create a government, which Montenegro expects to happen. Despite his pledge during the election not to rely on the support of right-wing populists, he holds hope that the SP and Chega do not form an opposing alliance to thwart the government that the people of Portugal have chosen.
The AD, together with its conservative partners in the Madeira region, secured a minimum of 79 seats, outperforming the 77 seats won by SP. However, the final count of overseas ballots left four seats unassigned. The SP has been lagging behind the AD in the majority of public opinion polls ever since the resignation of socialist prime minister Antonio Costa due to a corruption investigation in November. Santos has declared that the SP will now spearhead the opposition, stating that the responsibility cannot be left to Chega.
The right-wing party used a slogan of anti-establishment during their campaign, vowing to eradicate corruption and displaying antagonism towards what they view as “excessive” immigration. Andre Ventura, leader of Chega, communicated to journalists that the results of Sunday’s vote “unmistakably proved that the Portuguese seek a government of the AD closely allied with Chega”. He had previously stated that Mr Montenegro would be accountable for any political instability if he persisted in declining to negotiate.
At the AD’s election evening gathering, a supporter named Paula Medeiros expressed her certainty that “instability will perpetually prevail”. The Socialists (PS) and the Social Democrats (PSD), who presently lead the newly formed AD, have been switching leadership since the dictatorship collapsed in 1974.
“A society suffering from a lack of remembrance,” commented Alexandra Ferreira, a 21-year-old law student and member of the PS. She further stated that the growth of the right-wing made her feel “immensely saddened”.
The dominating concerns during the campaign in the poorest country in western Europe encompassed a severe housing crisis, below-average wages, a lagging healthcare system, and corruption, perceived by many as a chronic issue with the mainstream parties.
Nevertheless, Portugal has demonstrated consistent annual growth rates above 2% under the socialism, with recent budget surpluses contributing to reducing the public debt to below 100 per cent of GDP. This has garnered commendation from Brussels and investors who do not anticipate that the AD will veer away from the route of fiscal prudence. – Reuters
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