Amidst the challenges of electing its president, the new Portuguese Parliament faced uncertainty and delays on Tuesday after three rounds of votes. The close results of the legislative elections on March 10 left a complicated configuration of the chamber, making it difficult to achieve an absolute majority for any candidate.
In the final vote of the day, neither conservative candidate José Pedro Aguiar-Branco nor socialist candidate Francisco Assis were able to secure the required 116 votes. With Aguiar-Branco receiving 88 votes and Assis receiving 90 votes, temporary President Antonio Filipe announced that they would postpone the session until tomorrow for another attempt. Despite the delays and uncertainty surrounding the election, Filipe lightened the mood by joking that he would not be spending his night at the official residence until tomorrow. The day’s proceedings began at 10:00 a.m., concluding after 11:00 p.m., with breaks in between as parliamentarians sought to elect their leader.
The outcome of Portugal’s legislative elections had left a tight result, with parties vying for power and influence in forming potential governing coalitions. The far-right Chega party had secured 50 seats, playing a key role in shaping these coalitions. In response to this development, leader of Democratic Alliance emphasized that he had no intention of forming an agreement with extreme right groups such as Chega party.
As tensions rose within parliamentary circles, various parties scrambled to form alliances and chart their paths for the new legislative term. This complexity highlights Portugal’s political landscape as parties compete for power and influence in these challenging times ahead.