Portugal Votes Amid Political Uncertainty in Third Election in Three Years

Portugal opened its polls on Sunday for a snap parliamentary election, the third in as many years, with voters bracing for continued political instability. The election was triggered just one year into the centre-right Democratic Alliance’s (AD) minority government after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a confidence vote in March over alleged ethics concerns linked to his family’s consultancy. Montenegro denies any wrongdoing, and polls show voters largely dismissing the accusations.

Voting runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, with exit polls expected at 8 p.m. The vote is driven by growing concerns over housing, immigration, and persistent political gridlock. Portugal has seen only one majority government in a decade, which also collapsed prematurely.

Latest opinion polls show Montenegro’s AD leading with over 32%, ahead of the centre-left Socialist Party (PS) at around 26%. However, AD is again unlikely to secure an outright majority in the 230-seat parliament, which requires at least 42% of the vote. A potential coalition with the pro-business Liberal Initiative (IL) is possible, though their combined support still falls short of a majority.

Voter turnout is expected to be low, with many citizens expressing election fatigue. "We can’t have elections every year," said Diogo Lima, a 26-year-old bank worker, urging that AD be allowed to govern.

The far-right Chega party, polling third at 18%, is excluded from any coalition talks by Montenegro. Chega’s leader, Andre Ventura, who recently suffered health issues, made a last-minute return to the campaign.

Political analysts predict a fragmented parliament with uncertain prospects for long-term stability, as the AD navigates a difficult path to govern effectively in a divided political landscape.