Portuguese citizens are heading to the polls today in a snap parliamentary election called after the collapse of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s center-right government earlier this year.
Voting began at 8:00 AM local time and will continue until 8:00 PM, with the majority of official results expected by midnight.
The election follows the March 11 no-confidence vote in parliament, where Montenegro’s administration lost support amid a controversy involving potential conflicts of interest.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for early elections in response to the political crisis, setting the stage for a fierce contest between the ruling center-right bloc, the Socialist Party (PS), and rising forces on the political fringes.
Montenegro remains the frontrunner, according to recent polls, but faces strong challenges from both the far-right Chega (Enough) party and the far-left factions.
The outcome of the vote could reshape the balance of power in Portuguese politics, depending on whether any party or coalition secures a governing majority in the 230-seat Assembly of the Republic.
This election is being closely watched across Europe as Portugal joins a wave of political instability seen in several EU member states.
