Portugal votes as far right seeks kingmaker role

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Centre-right leader Luís Montenegro wants to bring an end to eight years of Socialist rule

Portugal’s centre right is leading a tight election race, exit polls suggest, but will struggle to form a majority in parliament.

The Democratic Alliance is aiming to bring an end to eight years of rule by the centre-left Socialists.

It is projected to win 29-33% of the vote, ahead of 25-29% for the Socialists.

But the far-right Chega (Enough) party appears to have cemented its bid to be the third force in Portuguese politics.

The main exit poll for public broadcaster RTP gives ex-football pundit André Ventura’s party 14-17% of the vote, after a campaign focused on corruption and immigration.

Chega has set its hopes on becoming a kingmaker, five years after it secured its first seat in parliament, and the party hailed a historic night.

But the main winner on Sunday appeared to be the leader of the centre right, Luís Montenegro, whose supporters chanted “Portugal, Portugal” as his face appeared on TV screens as the exit polls became clear.

Ten million Portuguese had the chance to cast their vote in Sunday’s snap election, four months after Socialist Prime Minister António Costa stood down amid corruption allegations, even though he was never named as a suspect.

Turnout was set to be the highest for years, even though elections were last held only two years ago.

The centre right has not been without its own problems. The Social Democratic Party which dominates the Democratic Alliance has been implicated in a regional scandal in Madeira.

Even if it does win Sunday’s vote, the alliance is projected to win about 91 seats in the 230-seat parliament, far short of an outright majority.