Portugals Far Right Surges In Biggest Election Since Dictatorship Ended 50 Years Ago

Portugals far right is set to take on its biggest role in governing the country since the fall of the fascist Estado Novo regime 50 years ago after quadrupling its bloc of lawmakers in the national Parliament. 

The results of Sundays election are not yet final, but by Monday morning showed the hardline party Chega had won at least 48 of the parliaments 230 seats, up from 12. The center-right Democratic Alliance led by the Social Democrats with a couple of tiny conservative parties secured 79 seats. The Socialists claimed 77. 

Chega Portuguese for enough formed just five years ago as a right-wing faction of the traditional center-right Social Democrats split off under the leadership of Andre Ventura, a charismatic former sportscaster who gained notoriety by attacking gay rights and Portugals tiny Roma minority. 

Its rise to power over the last few elections shocked many in a country that had seemed immune to the strain of bombastic populism animating the political right in France, the Netherlands and Germany, inoculated by such recent memories of authoritarian rule. 

But Chegas anti-establishment rhetoric found new purchase among Portuguese voters after the long-ruling Socialist Party government collapsed in November amid a corruption scandal involving alleged backroom deals for major green infrastructure projects.

Ahead of Sundays snap election, Chega papered the countrys traffic circles with billboards pitching Ventura as the man to cleanse Portugals political class, which the far-right blamed for everything from stagnant wages to high housing costs. 

Luis Montenegro, leader of the Social Democratic Party, had previously ruled out a coalition with the far right. Without Chega, however, the Democratic Alliance does not have enough votes to command a parliamentary majority. 

While Montenegros chief rival, Pedro Nuno Santos, conceded defeat after his center-left Socialist Partys nine-year run came to an end, he refused to support the center-right coalitions agenda, including across-the-board tax cuts, according to Reuters .

Ventura told reporters that Sundays vote clearly showed Portuguese voters wanted a Democratic Alliance that includes Chega. If the center-right refuses to work with Chega and cannot govern, Ventura said the blame will fall on Montenegro.

If Montenegro is unable to form a government, he could end up resigning, clearing the way for a party leader with a different view of Chega.

The new [Social Democrat] leader may feel differently about the opportunity of governing along with Chega, said Jos Santana Pereira, an associate professor of political science at the University Institute of Lisbon. 

Its difficult to tell what Chegas priorities would be in a government. Unlike its allied far-right movements elsewhere in Europe, the Portuguese hardliners support the European Union and take relatively moderate positions on immigration. While the partys nostalgia for Portugals imperial past has attracted conservative Catholics, Ventura has said Chega would not reopen the debate on the legality of abortion. 

Chega doesnt present a clear political program, so its very difficult to see, Antnio Costa Pinto, a research professor at the University of Lisbons Institute of Social Sciences, told HuffPost ahead of the election. Chega is changing its position every day. Its like Donald Trump.

The election notches another victory for Europes far right. 

Italys Giorgia Meloni, who grew up as part of a youth group descended from dictator Benito Mussolinis political machine, took power in late 2022 and just survived a major electoral test in a local vote. 

Despite extremist statements vowing to ban Muslim houses of worship, the Netherlands Geert Wilders won a stunning upset in Novembers election just weeks after Portugals corruption scandal erupted. 

The radical Alternative for Germany party made major gains in last years election, and polls show the far-right movement in second place ahead of next years vote.