Portugal is headed for another minority government after general election
Associated PressMAY 14
Portugal: Ruling Alliance Wins Election, Misses Majority
Above: Luís Montenegro arrives to give a victory speech at the electoral night headquarters in Lisbon on May 18, 2025. Image copyright: Horacio Villalobos/Contributor/Corbis via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
It's no wonder that Chega! has grown more popular election after election. Portuguese voters have realized that establishment parties are either unwilling to or unable to address their concerns, as uncontrolled migration drives housing prices up and now threatens Portugal's very existence. Chega! is the only party that can get the job done. It's time to let it govern the country.
Narrative B
Key takeaways from this snap election include the Socialists' fiasco and the rise of Chega!, but it's inaccurate to consider the latter the big winner of the night. After all, Montenegro's Aliança Democrática won nine seats more than in the previous vote after an explicit promise not to work with the far-right populists, showing that the nation has not fallen for insinuations and intrigues against him.