• Portugal's center-right Democratic Alliance wins most seats but falls short of a majority.
• Far-right Chega party surges, potentially becoming the main opposition party.
• This marks the third election in three years for Portugal, reflecting ongoing political instability.

Portugal's center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won the most seats in the recent snap elections, yet again fell short of securing a majority in parliament, capturing around 32.7% of the vote. This election is characterized by a significant increase in support for the far-right Chega party, which could surpass the left-leaning Socialists as the main opposition party, according to aa, aa, scmp, trtglobal, and lemonde.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed confidence in his party's victory despite not achieving a governing majority, stating, "The people want this government and this prime minister" after the results were released. However, with only 89 seats secured and a coalition of various parties required for legislative support, political analysts highlight the enduring uncertainty facing the government, according to reuters, nytimes, and indiatimes.

The election saw Chega receiving about 22.6% of the vote, significantly increasing its parliamentary seats to potentially 58, alongside the Socialists at 23.4%. Chega's leader, André Ventura, remarked, "Nothing will ever be the same again," underscoring the party’s rise as a prominent force in Portuguese politics. This represents a broader pattern of far-right parties gaining ground across Europe, as noted by lemonde, npr, and indiatimes.