The Portuguese far right has been the biggest gainer in a general election that has ended in a near draw for the country’s two biggest parties, according to multiple media outlets.
Although the centre-right Democratic Alliance claimed a marginal victory, both it and the Socialists received about 29 percent of ballots cast, as of Sunday night Portuguese time. Neither has a chance of forming a majority government.
The fledgling far-right Chega party, meanwhile, polled 18 percent of the vote, and has won 48 seats in the 203-seat legislature. However, Democratic Alliance leader Luís Montenegro has so far said that no deals will be done with Chega.
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Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos conceded defeat Sunday. He said his party would now “lead the opposition,” while Montenegro told party faithful that he expected to be asked to form the next administration.
The elections were set in motion last November, when Socialist prime minister António Costa resigned in the wake of a corruption probe that damaged his party’s standing.
A housing shortage, inflation and low incomes have meanwhile added to a mood of public discontent that Chega has deftly capitalised on.
