Portuguese elections without a clear winner and with a strengthened right-wing

(Patria) - The outcome of the parliamentary elections in Portugal is tight, with the Socialist Party (PS) and the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) party vying for the lead.

The far-right Chega party took third place with over 18% of the vote, almost tripling its electoral result from 2022, which has likely given the right-wing a parliamentary majority, although the moderate AD has so far refused to negotiate with the populists.

By late Sunday, 99% of ballots had been counted, with votes from abroad still pending. Awaiting the final result, which will take several days to complete, AD led by only 438 votes with 28.7% support, Reuters reported.

A separate conservative group from the Madeira region won three seats, which could help AD. The Socialists' prospects of forming a government are slim, as the combined right-wing will dominate the legislature.

Chega party leader Andre Ventura told reporters that Sunday's vote "clearly showed that the Portuguese want an AD government with Chega".

He ran his campaign on an anti-establishment message, promising to eradicate corruption and expressing hostility towards what he sees as "excessive" immigration.

The PS and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which leads the newly formed AD, have alternated in power since the end of the fascist dictatorship five decades ago.

The elections were triggered by the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa amid a corruption investigation four months ago.

Issues that dominated the campaign in Western Europe's poorest country include a huge housing crisis, low wages, poor healthcare, and corruption, which many consider endemic within the main parties.