UPDATE - Portugal’s ruling Socialist party wins outright majority in snap general elections

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By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - Portugal’s ruling Socialist party (PS) won early legislative elections Sunday, securing an outright majority in parliament, according to exit polls.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa, the leader of the PS, said in his victory speech that they will rule the country for the next four years with 117 or 118 deputies in the 230-seat parliament.

"An outright majority doesn't mean absolute power. In a democracy, it doesn't mean to govern alone. I will establish dialogue with all political parties representing the Portuguese," Costa said.

"It is a triumph of humility, confidence and stability. I must admit that tonight is very special to me."

The number of the Left Bloc's deputies decreased from 19 to 4 and those in the Communist Party and Greens Alliance Unitarian Democratic Coalition from 12 to 5.

Meanwhile, Rui Rio, 64, the former mayor of Porto who has been leading the Social Democratic Party (PSD), announced that he would resign after the PS secured an absolute majority.

In addition, the far-right Chega (Enough) party increased the number of its deputies from one to 11 with 7.15% of the vote.

Also, the Liberal Initiative party increased the number of its deputies from one to six.

With 99% of the ballot boxes opened by the Interior Ministry, the current seat distribution of 212 seats out of the 230-seat parliament is as follows: PS 112, Social Democratic Party 68, Chega (Enough) 11, Liberal Initiative 6, the Left Bloc 4, Communist Party and Greens Alliance Unitarian Democratic Coalition 5, Social Democratic Center 3, Democratic Alliance 2 and Free-Livre 1.

- Unexpected turnout

Additionally, outpacing expectations, voter turnout in the early general elections increased.

Turnout reached 57%, despite nearly 1 million people equivalent to 10% of the country's population being in home quarantine due to COVID-19.

Turnout was 48.57% in the last elections held in 2019, which fell to 40% in the presidential elections in January 2021.

Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to receive the leaders of the political parties entering parliament Tuesday.

The Portuguese cast their vote for the 17th time in the history of the democracy following the Carnation Revolution, which ended the dictatorship on April 25, 1974.

The previous seat distribution in parliament was as follows: Socialist party (PS) 108 (36.34%), Social Democratic Party 79 (27.76%), the Left Bloc 19 (9.52%), Communist Party and Greens Alliance Unitarian Democratic Coalition 12 (6.33%), Social Democratic Center 5 (4.22%), People, Animals and Nature 4 (3.32%), Chega 1 (1.29%), Liberal Initiative 1 (1.29%) and Free-Livre 1 (1.09%).

The PS, which has been in power since November 2015, could not pass the 2022 budget in parliament as it could not convince the left and communist parties that supported the minority government from outside.

A total of 10.8 million voters are registered.

Costa, 60, who has been prime minister for six years, will go down in history as the country’s longest-serving premier since the Carnation Revolution.