Portugal joins Europe's far-right surge

Portugal’s anti-immigration Chega party has taken a significant step forward in national politics, emerging as the main parliamentary opposition following the May 28 election — a major gain for Europe’s resurgent far right.

With Chega now holding the second-most seats in Portugal’s parliament, the traditional alternation of power between center-right and center-left parties in the Southwestern European country has been disrupted. This development marks a watershed moment in Portuguese politics, with an article by NPR noting that Chega — which means “Enough” — has grown rapidly from a fringe party with only one seat to a powerful political force since its founding just six years ago.

It now holds 60 of the 230 seats in the National Assembly, including two secured this week from overseas voters. Its ascent reflects broader far-right gains across Europe, where parties like France’s National Rally, Italy’s Brothers of Italy led by PM Giorgia Meloni, and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) have also moved into the political mainstream. Chega’s rise has been fuelled by its uncompromising stance on immigration, voter frustration with political instability, and dissatisfaction with traditional parties. The May 28 election — Portugal’s third in three years — was triggered by the collapse of a fragile minority government. In the aftermath, Chega overtook the long-dominant Socialist Party in key southern districts, including some it had controlled since the 1974 Carnation Revolution. 

Chega leader André Ventura called the result “a profound change in the Portuguese political system.” Speaking to supporters after his party surpassed the Socialists by two seats, Ventura pledged a “smooth and healthy regime change.” He emphasized that only those who had "spent the past 50 years robbing Portugal" had reason to fear Chega’s ascent, as cited by Politico. The center-right Democratic Alliance, led by the Social Democratic Party, also gained two seats, bringing its total to 88. Despite leading the vote, the Alliance is expected to form yet another minority government under incoming Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. 

With Chega now leading the opposition, Montenegro and other centrist forces will face a more aggressive and ideologically distinct challenger. The Socialists, meanwhile, have seen their fortunes decline dramatically. Once holding an outright majority under former Prime Minister António Costa, the party has struggled since Costa’s resignation amid an influence-peddling scandal. The Socialist Party is expected to appoint José Luís Carneiro, a former Interior Minister, as its new leader after Pedro Nuno Santos stepped down on election night. 

Looking ahead, Chega is poised to continue its momentum in upcoming municipal elections this fall. The party is projected to win up to 21 city halls, including Sintra — Portugal’s second-largest municipality — along with Montijo, Vila Franca de Xira, and Alenquer, all of which have been leftist strongholds since the fall of the Estado Novo dictatorship. Chega’s campaign, run under the slogan “Save Portugal,” has emphasized nationalism and law-and-order themes. While it claims no formal ties to political parties, its rapid growth and increasingly mainstream position are raising questions about the direction of Portuguese democracy and the resilience of centrist institutions. 

By Nazrin Sadigova