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André Ventura from the right-wing populist party Chega casting his vote in Lisbon

Photo: Andre Dias Nobre / AFP

The Socialists (PS), who have been in power for more than eight years, apparently suffered heavy losses in the early parliamentary elections in Portugal.

Around 10.8 million voters were called on Sunday to re-elect the 230 representatives of the “Assembleia da República”.

According to initial forecasts, the conservative alliance Democratic Alliance (AD) led by top candidate Luís Montenegro will emerge as the strongest party in the election.

A significant increase in votes for the populists from Chega also ensures a strong shift to the right.

Based on the results, a very difficult government formation is expected in the next few weeks.

According to a voter survey by the state television station RTP that is considered reliable, the conservatives received 29 to 33 percent and the socialists only 25 to 29 percent.

According to the station's survey, Chega increased from a good seven percent in the last election at the beginning of 2022 to now 14 to 17 percent.

Other Portuguese media published similar figures to RTP in the evening, shortly after the last polling stations in the Azores closed at 9 p.m.

In the last election in January 2022, the PS won with a good 41 percent and won an absolute majority with 120 of the 230 seats in the Lisbon “Assembleia da República”.

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called the vote in November after the Socialist Prime Minister António Costa resigned in the wake of a corruption scandal and remained in office only in an acting capacity.

A “grand coalition” between PS and AD is considered impossible.

Montenegro will therefore probably have to rely on agreements with smaller parties.

The 51-year-old trained lawyer will rely primarily on the Liberal Initiative (IL), which can expect up to seven percent.

However, both parties are far from having a majority capable of governing.

In view of the looming difficulties in forming a government, observers predicted a new election in the summer before the vote.

The main reason: Montenegro does not want to negotiate with the Chega party of former TV sports commentator André Ventura, who is becoming the unpopular "kingmaker".

In Portugal – similar to the AfD in Germany – there is still a so-called firewall to the right.

More soon at SPIEGEL.de

czl/dpa