Luis Montenegro, head of the Democratic Alliance and the Social Democrat leader, is elected prime minister. Final results gave the Alliance 80 seats in the 230-seat parliament, which will give it only a minority government. Chega, with 50 seats, is demanding a voice in the government, however. The Socialist Party won 78 seats but has said it will not stand in the way of the Alliance forming a government.

General election. The discovery of €75,800 in former Prime Minister António Costa's office during a corruption probe in 2023 brought down the center-left government and fueled the hard-right populist party, Chega (Enough), led by André Ventura, which is expected to double its seats. Portugal has shifted right due to economic malaise over stagnated wages and inflation. The center-right Democratic Alliance, led by Luis Montenegro, is expected to win the most votes but fall short of a parliamentary majority, positioning Chega as the kingmaker of the right-wing coalition. With most of the vote counted and the highest turnout in three decades, the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) — led by the Social Democrats — and the center-left Socialists, led by Nuno Santos, were separated by 2,058 votes, with both hovering near 29 percent. The far-right Chega Party, meanwhile, was overperforming in third with 18 percent, more than doubling its 2022 result. The AD should have about 79 seats in parliament, the Socialists 77, and Chega 48. The Socialists conceded defeat despite the closeness of the voter, perhaps hoping to the Democratic Alliance to its pledge not to form a coalition with Chega, but rather rule as a minority party with a small party of fiscal conservatives. However, even such an arrangement would give Chega a strong position in parliament.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa calls new elections 3/20/24.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigns amid an investigation into corruption in his administration, though he says he is innocent.

Portugal sends judicial police to investigate coup attempt.

In a surprise, the Socialists win an outright majority in parliament in snap elections, winning about 117 seats in the 230-member parliament.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dissolves parliament and calls for a new election on 1/30/22 after the budget presented by Prime Minister António Costa is rejected by parliament. It is the first time a budget has been rejected since Portugal became a democracy in 1994.

Portugal vows to send military to Mozambique to support fight against Islamist militias. The increasing power of the Islamists has become a concern to all the countries around Mozambique.

In elections 1/25, Rebelo de Sousa is re-elected with 61% of the vote. Socialist Ana Gomes is second with 13%, but anti-immigrant populist “anti-system party Chega! (Enough!), led by André Ventura wins 12%. Chega! was formed two years ago.

Portugal reports the largest number of new cases of COVID-19 since 4/20.

Protests calling for the resignation of Lourenco’s chief of staff, Edeltrudes Costa, after Portuguese journalists accuse him of embezzlement.

Portugal declares a state of emergency due to COVID-19.

Portugal confirms its first case of COVID-19.

Voting in Portugal. The Socialists are expected to win easily, though perhaps not with a majority on their own, and return Antonio Costa to the prime ministership. The other main parties are the center-right Social Democrats (PSD) led by Rui Rio, the traditional Christian Democrat party, the People's Party (CDS) led by Assuncao Cristas, the Left Bloc (BE) led by Catarina Martins, and the Unitary Democratic Coalition headed by Jeronimo de Sousa, a political coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Greens.

Socialists claim victory with over 35% of the vote increasing its membership in parliament, though not reaching a majority of the 230 seats. The Social Democrats lost twelve seats, falling to 77. Socialist leader Costa says he will continue ruling with a minority government. A strong economy and boost in tourism has bolstered the Socialists.

Continuing protests by nurses union against government.

PM Costa survives no-confidence vote. Labor union strikes and protests, generally about economic difficulties, have shaken the government. The Socialists, supported by the Communists and the Left Block, remain more popular. The conservative CDS-PP is still associated with the painful austerity of 2011-14.

A bank in Portugal blocks the attempt by the Maduro government to move $1.2 billion to Uruguay.

UK, Germany, Portugal, and Spain recognize Gaidó as leader of Venezuela.

Trial begins in Lisbon of former head of Angola state oil company, Manuel Vicente, now vice president, who is charged with bribing a Portuguese state prosecutor to dismiss money laundering cases . Angola has asked that the trial be transferred to Luanda. However, Portugual objects that an amnesty law would allow Vicente to avoid trial in Angola.