(CN) — Portugal was one of the last places in Europe where the far right wasn't a factor. That ended on Sunday.
In a stunning result coming 50 years after the fall of the Portugal's fascist dictatorship, the far-right Chega (in English, Enough) took in 18% of the vote in parliamentary elections on Sunday. That result consolidated its position as the third strongest party behind the country's two mainstream groups, the center-right Democratic Alliance and the center-left Socialists.
Formed only five years ago by popular soccer pundit and lawyer André Ventura, Chega received 7% of the vote in the last legislative elections in 2022 and only 1% in 2019, its first elections.
Chega's strong showing was further evidence of a dramatic right-wing shift across the European Union ahead of European elections in June. Chega is similar to other far-right European parties with its nationalist, ultra-conservative, anti-EU and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
By Monday, the Democratic Alliance had the edge with just over 20% of the ballot while the Socialists, who have been in power for the last eight years, trailed with about 18%.
The center-right group picked up 79 seats in parliament, the Socialists 77 and Chega 48. Four seats representing Portuguese voters living abroad still had not been assigned by Monday.
Neither the Democratic Alliance nor the Socialists had enough votes to form a majority government even in coalitions with smaller parties. Both have vowed to not partner with Chega and bring the radical right into power.
But the Democratic Alliance was in position to take power as a minority government, though its success would depend on Chega not joining the Socialists and smaller opposition parties in opposing a center-right government.
Luis Montenegro, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, the biggest party in the Democratic Alliance, is expected to become the next prime minister after Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa hold talks with party leaders.
“In such a situation, the far-right party Chega would have to decide whether to topple the government or to use its MPs [members of parliament] to influence the policy agenda,” said Antonio Barroso, an analyst at Teneo, a London-based political risk firm, in a briefing note.
The election was heavily influenced by a corruption scandal that erupted last November, prompting the resignation of the long-serving and popular Socialist Prime Minister António Costa. He stepped down after police launched a corruption probe into lithium mining and green hydrogen energy projects pushed by his government.
Costa has not been charged with a crime, but his chief of staff was arrested. Before stepping down, Costa had been Portugal's prime minister since 2015. But his government was plagued by scandals in his last two years in power.
Besides the corruption scandals, the Socialists failed to convince voters as Portugal, Western Europe's poorest nation, struggles with high inflation, a housing crisis and slow growth.
In its campaign, Chega won voters over with an anti-corruption message and by attacking the Socialists for causing the country's economic pain.
Detractors see Chega as an ugly reminder of Portugal's five decades under a right-wing dictatorship that ended on April 25, 1974, following a mutiny by left-wing elements in the Portuguese army.
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.
Follow @cainburdeau
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