Скачать или смотреть Portugal's election result falls short of ending political instability - AP explains

(19 May 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lisbon, Portugal - 19 May 2025
1. Various of Portuguese Parliament
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Barry Hatton, The Associated Press:
"Portugal has held its third general election in three years. There were hopes that Sunday's ballot would help end the worst period of political instability in Portugal for decades."
3. Portuguese flag on top of Parliament
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Barry Hatton, The Associated Press:
"The early election came about after opposition parties ganged up on the minority government and drove it from power. But this election has delivered another minority government."
5. Honour guards standing outside parliament
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Barry Hatton, The Associated Press:
"Adding to the political uncertainty, there was a significant rise in support for a far-right populist party called Chega, 'That's 'Enough' in English. The centre right Democratic Alliance actually won the election, but it got just 89 seats in the 230 seat National Assembly, Portugal's parliament, here behind me. That won't be enough for it to prevent being brought down again by the collective weight of the opposition."
7. Wide of parliament
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Barry Hatton, The Associated Press:
"Chega is poised to claim second place in the election with 58 seats. Its focus on immigration and corruption have given it its best electoral results since it first ran six years ago. Then it got just one seat. The centre-left Socialist Party produced its worst election result ever, the worst one since 1987 and its leader has resigned. Another turbulent period looks to be ahead for the Portuguese parliament."
9. Parliament facade and flag
STORYLINE:
Portugal's third general election in three years has failed to deliver the result that could break the worst spell of political instability for decades in the European Union country of 10.6 million people.

Sunday's vote delivered another minority government for the centre-right Democratic Alliance, which will be at the mercy of opposition parties.

The significant rise in support for the hard-right populist party Chega (Enough) adds more uncertainty.

The Democratic Alliance, led by the Social Democratic Party, lost a vote of confidence in parliament in March as opposition lawmakers teamed up against it. That triggered an election, which had been due in 2028.

The confidence vote was sparked by a political storm around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s family law firm. Montenegro, who is poised to become prime minister again, has denied any wrongdoing.

The Democratic Alliance captured at least 89 seats in the 230-seat National Assembly.

Chega collected the same number of seats as the centre-left Socialists — 58 — and could yet claim second place when four remaining seats decided by voters abroad are attributed in coming days.

Chega competed in its first election just six years ago, when it won one seat, and has fed off disaffection with the more moderate traditional parties.

Its success shook up the traditional balance of power in a trend already witnessed elsewhere in Europe with parties such as France’s National Rally, the Brothers of Italy, and Alternative for Germany, which are now in the political mainstream.

For the past 50 years, the Social Democrats and the centre-left Socialist Party have alternated in power in Portugal.

The Socialists, meanwhile, are without a leader after Pedro Nuno Santos said he was standing down following the party’s worst result since 1987.

Smaller parties got the other seats.




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