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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jon Henley Europe correspondent

Europe’s centre-right dilemma: work with the far right, or work to exclude it?

André Ventura, leader of the populist rightwing party Chega, addresses supporters after the announcement of results for Portugal's general election in Lisbon, Monday 11 March 2024: he has a hand raised and is seen against a deep blue backdrop; he is a dark-haired man in his early 40s and wears a black jacket, white shirt and pale blue tie
The populist rightwing party Chega (Enough), led by André Ventura, won 48 seats in Portugal’s election but the Social Democratic party has so far ruled out bringing it into a coalition deal. Photograph: João Henriques/AP

The dilemma facing Luís Montenegro of Portugal’s Social Democratic party (PSD) will be familiar to a growing number of Europe’s centre-right parties: if the shortest and surest route to power means working with the populist far right, should you take it?

Montenegro’s electoral alliance with two smaller conservative parties finished first in Sunday’s ballot, winning 79 seats: two more than its Socialist party (PS) rival, but a very long way indeed from a majority in the country’s 230-seat parliament.

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