Portugal's political turmoil deepens as ex-PM floats far-right alliance
Portugal's political landscape remains unsettled as former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho calls for a legislative pact between the centre-right PSD, the far-right Chega, and the Liberal Initiative (IL). His comments come amid growing pressure on current PSD leader Luís Montenegro, whose minority government faces rising opposition from both the left and the far-right politicos.
Passos Coelho suggested that Montenegro missed an opportunity to secure a stable governing alliance with Chega and IL for key reforms. He also hinted at a possible return to politics himself, though without a firm commitment.
Portugal's political instability has deepened since the 2023 corruption scandals that forced António Costa's resignation. His minority Socialist government, in power since 2015, had relied on left-wing support for stability. Snap elections in March 2024 brought Luís Montenegro's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) to power—but only as a minority government.
Since then, AD has struggled against opposition from the Socialists, while Chega's anti-immigration stance and IL's push for economic reforms have weakened its position. By early 2026, Chega's polling surged to around 25-30%, with IL gaining 8-10% support. No-confidence threats and parliamentary deadlocks have left Montenegro's government vulnerable.
Passos Coelho argued that a formal agreement with Chega and IL could have provided stability for major reforms. He also acknowledged that Chega, led by André Ventura, stands to gain from PSD's current struggles. When asked about his own political future, the former leader remained noncommittal but left the door open, stating: 'When I want to run, I will run.'
The call for a legislative pact highlights the challenges facing Montenegro's government. Without broader support, AD risks further parliamentary gridlock as Chega and IL continue to grow in influence. Passos Coelho's remarks add to the speculation about Portugal's next political moves.
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