Politics Portugal's president talks to party leaders about new elections
Following the fall of the minority government in Portugal, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has begun consultations with the party leaders on the next steps.
12.03.2025, 15:59
SDA
The head of state first met in the Palácio de Belém in Lisbon with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of the conservative governing alliance Democratic Alliance (AD), who is now only acting as caretaker prime minister. This was followed by opposition leader Pedro Nuno Santos from the Socialist Party (PS), André Ventura from the right-wing populist Chega and other politicians.
Following the deliberations, Rebelo could dissolve parliament and call an early parliamentary election, which would then probably take place on May 11 or 18. This is considered the most likely solution. It would be the third early parliamentary election in Portugal since the beginning of 2022.
Montenegro was ousted from parliament on Tuesday evening after just under a year. The opposition had increasingly driven him into a corner in recent weeks. The allegations concerned a conflict of interest due to a family business owned by the 52-year-old. Montenegro rejects the accusations.
