The Democratic Alliance (AD), a center-right coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), has emerged as the winner of Portugal’s snap legislative election, securing 89 of the 230 parliamentary seats, with four still to be allocated from overseas constituencies. The result marks a significant gain over the 80 seats AD held in the previous legislature.
But the biggest political earthquake of the night came from the populist Chega party, which surged to a historic 58 seats — matching the number won by the Socialist Party (PS), the traditional left-wing force that has dominated Portuguese politics for decades. Both parties are now in a dead heat for second place, pending final results from voters abroad.
Chega’s leader, André Ventura, celebrated what he called a historic result. “We did what no party had done in Portugal: Today we can officially declare before the whole country and with certainty that bipartisanship is over,” he told supporters, declaring the election the end of the two-party system.
“Portugal is ours,” he concluded. Ventura also promised that “nothing will be the same as before in Portugal” and reaffirmed his ambition, saying, “I will not stop until I am prime minister of Portugal.”
Portugal, preliminary final results (excluding voters abroad):
Seat distribution
226/230 seats allocatedAD-EPP: 89 (+9)
PS-S&D: 58 (-20)
CH-PfE: 58 (+8)
IL-RE: 9 (+1)
L-G/EFA: 6 (+2)
CDU-LEFT|G/EFA: 3 (-1)
BE-LEFT: 1 (-4)
PAN-G/EFA: 1
JPP-RE: 1 (new)+/- vs. 2024 election
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) May 18, 2025
Chega, founded in 2019, has grown from just 1.3 percent of the vote in its first election to more than 23 percent in this contest. It now holds seats in four districts and has established itself as one of the dominant political forces in the country. Ventura said the next government “depends on Chega and only on Chega,” though he did not specify whether his party would support or oppose AD’s program in Parliament.
The rise of Chega drew praise from nationalist leaders across Europe. “Great success for the friends of Chega, allies of the League in Europe, in the parliamentary elections in Portugal: best result ever!” wrote Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on X. “The family of Patriots for Europe is stronger and stronger,” he added.
France’s Marine Le Pen said Chega had delivered a “remarkable performance” and commended Ventura for his “tenacity, determination, and commitment,” while Dutch PVV leader Geert Wilders also congratulated Ventura, calling him a “dear friend.”
Congratulations Portugal with the excellent result of @PartidoCHEGA and my dear friend @AndreCVentura!! 💪 https://t.co/ytHVJIPQrk
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) May 19, 2025
Meanwhile, the Socialist Party suffered a crushing blow. With just 23.38 percent of the vote, it fell from first place to a tie with Chega. The party’s leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, announced his resignation. “I will ask for internal elections in which I will not be a candidate,” he said. “But as Mário Soares said, only those who give up fighting are defeated, and I will not give up fighting.”
Santos acknowledged that “it was not enough” and said that the parties “that caused the instability were rewarded.” He declined to offer a full evaluation of the loss but emphasized that he was no longer the right person to lead the party.
Despite its win, the AD remains short of the 116 seats needed for a majority. Its leader, Luís Montenegro, insisted that the election result gives him a legitimate mandate to govern. “The people want this government and they don’t want another,” he said. “A sense of responsibility, respect, and safeguarding of the national interest is expected.”
Asked whether he would consider forming a coalition, Montenegro declined to name possible partners but emphasized that “there is no other government solution than the one that emanates from the free, democratic, and convinced will of the Portuguese people.”
The results also reshuffled the lower ranks of parliament. The Liberal Initiative grew slightly to nine seats. Livre became the fifth-largest party with six seats, overtaking both the Left Bloc and the CDU (Communist-Green alliance), which won three seats. PAN and the newcomer JPP each gained one seat.
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