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The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Nothing will be the same again': Portugal's Chega may be spot on
As a former football pundit, columnist, seminarian and novelist, André Ventura is not a man given to understatement. But as the final results of Portugal's snap general election confirmed that his far-right Chega party had leapfrogged the socialists to become the second biggest party in parliament, his words may have been spot on. 'Nothing will be the same again,' the newly minted leader of the opposition promised after Wednesday's tally. Ventura also told the Portuguese people that Chega would not be seeking to emulate the centre-left Socialist party (PS) or the centre-right Social Democratic party (PSD) which have, between them, governed the country since its return to democracy after the Salazar dictatorship. 'Don't expect from Chega what the PS and PSD did for 50 years,' he said. 'That's why people now want a different party.' That much seems certain. Although the Democratic Alliance, led by Luís Montenegro of the PSD, finished first and increased its share of the vote, it once again fell well short of a majority. The PS, meanwhile, suffered such a humiliating collapse that its leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, announced his resignation even before the final results were in. Chega's triumphant performance offers conclusive proof that the era of Portuguese exceptionalism – the notion that the country's still-recent experience of dictatorship had immunised it against the far right – has come to an end. As in so many countries across Europe, social democratic parties are in retreat while strident populists have made once-unlikely breakthroughs. Chega's populist policies – which include stricter controls on migration and chemical castration for paedophiles – have certainly grabbed voters' attention, as has Ventura's demonisation of Portugal's Roma population. But how has the party, which Ventura founded just six years ago, managed to travel so far, so fast? 'Chega's success has to be understood in the context of the Portuguese electorate's attitudes over the past decade,' said Marina Costa Lobo, a professor at the University of Lisbon's Institute of Social Sciences. 'We've had a great deal of abstention – which was hiding a lot of dissatisfaction with the political system and a lot of frustration with the political elite – and fairly widespread populist attitudes.' All that was missing, she added, was the right party – and the right leader – to capitalise on that dissatisfaction: 'In 2019, André Ventura got elected to parliament and he's a very able leader in terms of articulating these grievances.' Costa Lobo said the PSD and the PS also bore some responsibility for Chega's rapid rise because of the number of elections the country had endured over the past few years – three snap general elections in three years. Rather than sensing that the weary and disillusioned national mood meant that more elections would only favour Chega's growth, the mainstream parties 'dropped the ball' and chose instead to focus on their own political squabbles. She added that Portugal's previous status as an outlier when it came to the rise of the European far right should have given the PSD and the PS pause for thought before they handed Chega repeated opportunities for electoral growth. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion Both Costa Lobo and Vicente Valentim, a professor of political science at IE University, also point to the role that the media has played in all this. 'The media gave Ventura a lot of attention,' said Valentim. 'It's been reported that between 2022 and 2024, he got more than double the number of interviews that Luís Montenegro, the leader of the PSD, did – and he was the prime minister. The amount of media coverage he got was completely through the roof.' After initially refusing to touch the unpalatable issues that Ventura would go on to make his political staples, said Costa Lobo, the media had belatedly realised that 'that kind of speech gets a lot of clicks and audiences … and they have also contributed, as a multiplier effect, to his success and his ability to reach the electorate'. Valentim said while the Portuguese socialists were struggling with the same issues as their colleagues in other centre-left European parties, they also had to contend with a leader who never became as popular as the party hoped – and an ageing support base. What's more, having been in government from 2015 to 2024, the PS was ill-equipped to push itself as a fresh alternative to Montenegro's administration. 'The long-term story is that centre-left parties across Europe are losing many votes – it's not just the case in Portugal,' he said. 'In Portugal, the socialists have the oldest electorate of the main parties, so they do have an issue that their electorate is quite literally dying out and they've had a hard time capitalising on younger voters, which is where the far right is doing well.' The question now is whether Chega has peaked – or whether a spell in opposition will help them grow even more. 'I think Chega are in the best position they could be right now to keep growing because they're the opposition party,' said Valentim, 'which is where these parties are typically better because they're much better at finding problems than finding solutions.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cyabra Report Uncovers Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Portugal's 2025 Elections, Featured on CNN
Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corp. (TBMC) New York, NY, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyabra Strategy Ltd. ('Cyabra'), a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has released a new investigation into coordinated manipulation campaigns aimed at swaying public opinion in the weeks ahead of Portugal's general election. The findings, based on a comprehensive analysis of social media activity between April 14 and May 14, expose how fake profiles and bot networks are reshaping Portugal's political discourse and voter sentiment in real time. Cyabra's report - 'Fake Voices, Real Votes' - has been widely featured by CNN Portugal in a series of articles highlighting how inauthentic profiles attempted to hijack online conversations to boost the far-right Chega party while discrediting its rivals: Exclusive: 58% of Chega's support on X is fake, new investigation showsCyabra: This was the company that discovered the existence of fake Chega profiles that spread misinformation on social media 'What's happening in Portugal is a masterclass in modern influence operations,' said Dan Brahmy, CEO & Co-founder of Cyabra. 'This is a deliberate, strategic campaign to undermine democratic institutions, sway public opinion, and manipulate voters during a critical election. We're proud that CNN is helping shine a light on these threats.' Key Findings from the Report: 58% of the accounts commenting on Chega's official X account were fake, creating the illusion of overwhelming public support. 49% of profiles commenting on posts from the Socialist (PS) and Social Democratic (PSD) parties were also fake, launching coordinated attacks against opposition leaders while promoting Chega in the same threads. Fake profiles amplified false narratives about Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos and malicious attacks on PSD's Luís Montenegro, spreading conspiracy theories, economic discontent, and anti-immigration rhetoric. Many fake accounts engaged in cross-campaign promotion, simultaneously attacking rival parties and praising Chega—further evidence of a coordinated effort. This is the latest in Cyabra's global work supporting election protection. In 2024 alone - the biggest election year in history - Cyabra supported 19 democracies to monitor and safeguard their elections. Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: TBMC), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company. Cyabra partnered with Global Vector Group. About CyabraCyabra is a real-time AI-powered platform that uncovers and analyzes online disinformation and misinformation by uncovering fake profiles, harmful narratives, and GenAI content across social media and digital news channels. Cyabra's AI solutions protect corporations and governments against brand reputation risks, election manipulation, foreign interference, and other online threats. Cyabra's platform leverages proprietary algorithms and NLP solutions, gathering and analyzing publicly available data to provide clear, actionable insights and real-time alerts that inform critical decision-making. Cyabra uncovers the good, bad, and fake online. For more information, visit Media Contact:Jill BurkesJill@ Contact: Jillabra.24 Investor Relations Contact:Miri SegalMS-IRmsegal@ About TrailblazerTrailblazer is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, visit: Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to certain products and services that are the subject of a proposed transaction (the 'Business Combination') between Trailblazer and Cyabra. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding Cyabra's business strategy, products and services, research and development costs, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated product offerings, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the ability to complete the Business Combination or, if Trailblazer does not consummate such Business Combination, any other initial business combination; expectations regarding Cyabra's strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Cyabra's ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Trailblazer or Cyabra following announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination due to, among other things, the failure to obtain Trailblazer stockholder approval; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Cyabra's current operations and future plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Trailblazer's common stock being greater than expected; limited liquidity and trading of Trailblazer's securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the size of the addressable markets for Cyabra's products and services; the possibility that Trailblazer and/or Cyabra may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of the combined company's common stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; operational risk; and the risks that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur. Important Information for Investors and StockholdersIn connection with the Business Combination, Trailblazer Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Trailblazer ('Holdings') has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Trailblazer's common stock in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the vote by its stockholders with respect to the Business Combination and other matters as may be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus of Holdings relating to the offer and sale of its securities to be issued in the Business Combination. . After the Registration Statement is declared effective, the proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Trailblazer stockholders so that they may vote on the Business AND STOCKHOLDERS OF TRAILBLAZER ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES stockholders are currently able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein, and will be able to obtain the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, once available, in all cases without charge, at the SEC's web site at or by directing a request to: Trailblazer at 510 Madison Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10022, Telephone: in the SolicitationCyabra, Trailblazer, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Trailblazer stockholders regarding the proposed Business Combination. Information about Trailblazer's directors and executive officers and their ownership of Trailblazer's securities is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed Business Combination. No Offer or SolicitationThis press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No sale of securities shall occur in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable laws.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cyabra Report Uncovers Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Portugal's 2025 Elections, Featured on CNN
Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corp. (TBMC) New York, NY, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyabra Strategy Ltd. ('Cyabra'), a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has released a new investigation into coordinated manipulation campaigns aimed at swaying public opinion in the weeks ahead of Portugal's general election. The findings, based on a comprehensive analysis of social media activity between April 14 and May 14, expose how fake profiles and bot networks are reshaping Portugal's political discourse and voter sentiment in real time. Cyabra's report - 'Fake Voices, Real Votes' - has been widely featured by CNN Portugal in a series of articles highlighting how inauthentic profiles attempted to hijack online conversations to boost the far-right Chega party while discrediting its rivals: Exclusive: 58% of Chega's support on X is fake, new investigation showsCyabra: This was the company that discovered the existence of fake Chega profiles that spread misinformation on social media 'What's happening in Portugal is a masterclass in modern influence operations,' said Dan Brahmy, CEO & Co-founder of Cyabra. 'This is a deliberate, strategic campaign to undermine democratic institutions, sway public opinion, and manipulate voters during a critical election. We're proud that CNN is helping shine a light on these threats.' Key Findings from the Report: 58% of the accounts commenting on Chega's official X account were fake, creating the illusion of overwhelming public support. 49% of profiles commenting on posts from the Socialist (PS) and Social Democratic (PSD) parties were also fake, launching coordinated attacks against opposition leaders while promoting Chega in the same threads. Fake profiles amplified false narratives about Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos and malicious attacks on PSD's Luís Montenegro, spreading conspiracy theories, economic discontent, and anti-immigration rhetoric. Many fake accounts engaged in cross-campaign promotion, simultaneously attacking rival parties and praising Chega—further evidence of a coordinated effort. This is the latest in Cyabra's global work supporting election protection. In 2024 alone - the biggest election year in history - Cyabra supported 19 democracies to monitor and safeguard their elections. Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: TBMC), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company. Cyabra partnered with Global Vector Group. About CyabraCyabra is a real-time AI-powered platform that uncovers and analyzes online disinformation and misinformation by uncovering fake profiles, harmful narratives, and GenAI content across social media and digital news channels. Cyabra's AI solutions protect corporations and governments against brand reputation risks, election manipulation, foreign interference, and other online threats. Cyabra's platform leverages proprietary algorithms and NLP solutions, gathering and analyzing publicly available data to provide clear, actionable insights and real-time alerts that inform critical decision-making. Cyabra uncovers the good, bad, and fake online. For more information, visit Media Contact:Jill BurkesJill@ Contact: Jillabra.24 Investor Relations Contact:Miri SegalMS-IRmsegal@ About TrailblazerTrailblazer is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, visit: Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to certain products and services that are the subject of a proposed transaction (the 'Business Combination') between Trailblazer and Cyabra. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding Cyabra's business strategy, products and services, research and development costs, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated product offerings, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the ability to complete the Business Combination or, if Trailblazer does not consummate such Business Combination, any other initial business combination; expectations regarding Cyabra's strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Cyabra's ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Trailblazer or Cyabra following announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination due to, among other things, the failure to obtain Trailblazer stockholder approval; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Cyabra's current operations and future plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Trailblazer's common stock being greater than expected; limited liquidity and trading of Trailblazer's securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the size of the addressable markets for Cyabra's products and services; the possibility that Trailblazer and/or Cyabra may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of the combined company's common stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; operational risk; and the risks that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur. Important Information for Investors and StockholdersIn connection with the Business Combination, Trailblazer Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Trailblazer ('Holdings') has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Trailblazer's common stock in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the vote by its stockholders with respect to the Business Combination and other matters as may be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus of Holdings relating to the offer and sale of its securities to be issued in the Business Combination. . After the Registration Statement is declared effective, the proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Trailblazer stockholders so that they may vote on the Business AND STOCKHOLDERS OF TRAILBLAZER ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES stockholders are currently able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein, and will be able to obtain the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, once available, in all cases without charge, at the SEC's web site at or by directing a request to: Trailblazer at 510 Madison Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10022, Telephone: in the SolicitationCyabra, Trailblazer, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Trailblazer stockholders regarding the proposed Business Combination. Information about Trailblazer's directors and executive officers and their ownership of Trailblazer's securities is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed Business Combination. No Offer or SolicitationThis press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No sale of securities shall occur in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Portuguese election brings another minority government amid far-right rise
The centre-right Democratic Alliance, led by the Social Democratic Party, captured 89 seats in the 230-seat National Assembly to win Sunday's ballot. The outcome leaves it without a parliamentary majority, however, and vulnerable to opposition parties that ousted it two months ago in a confidence vote after less than a year in power. Portugal's third general election in three years provided little hope for ending the worst spell of political instability for decades in the European Union country of 10.6 million people. Social Democratic Party leader Luis Montenegro will likely lead a minority government (AP) 'The Portuguese don't want any more early elections,' Luis Montenegro, the Democratic Alliance leader and incoming prime minister, said in an appeal for opposition parties to let him serve a full four-year term. 'We all have to be able to speak to each other and put the national interest first,' he added. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has no executive power, is due to consult with the parties before inviting the election winner to form a government. Chega's result shook up the traditional balance of power in a trend already witnessed elsewhere in Europe with parties such as France's National Rally, the Brothers of Italy, and Alternative for Germany, which are now in the political mainstream. Leader Andre Ventura has appeared at events with the leaders of those parties in recent years. For the past 50 years, the Social Democrats and the centre-left Socialist Party have alternated in power in Portugal. Socialist Party secretary general Pedro Nuno Santos stepped down after the party's worst result in nearly four decades (AP) Chega collected the same number of seats as the Socialists – 58 – and could yet claim second place when four remaining seats decided by voters abroad are attributed in coming days. 'The two-party system is over,' Mr Ventura, a lawyer and former soccer pundit, said. Chega competed in its first election just six years ago, when it won one seat, and has fed off disaffection over the more moderate traditional parties. Campaigning under the slogan 'Save Portugal', it describes itself as a nationalist party and has focused on curbing immigration and cracking down on corruption. The Socialists, meanwhile, are without a leader after Pedro Nuno Santos said he was standing down after the party's worst result since 1987. The Democratic Alliance, which also includes the smaller Popular Party, lost a confidence vote in parliament in March as opposition legislators teamed up against it. That triggered an early election, which had been due in 2028. Chega's success is part of a wider picture of far-right gains across Europe (AP) The confidence vote was sparked by a political storm around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's family law firm. Mr Montenegro has denied any wrongdoing. Corruption scandals have dogged Portuguese politics in recent years, helping fuel the rise of Chega. But the party has recently fallen foul of its own legislators' alleged wrongdoing. One is suspected of stealing suitcases from the Lisbon airport and selling the contents online, and another allegedly faked the signature of a dead woman. Both resigned. Chega owes much of its success to its demands for a tighter immigration policy that have resonated with voters. Portugal has witnessed a steep rise in immigration. In 2018, there were fewer than a half-million legal immigrants in the country, according to government statistics. By early this year, there were more than 1.5 million, many of them Brazilians and Asians working in tourism and farming. Thousands more lack the proper documents to be in Portugal. The Democratic Alliance government announced two weeks before the election that it was expelling about 18,000 foreigners living in the country without authorisation. Though such a step is routine, the timing drew accusations that it was trying to capture votes from Chega. A housing crisis has also fired up debate. House prices and rents have been soaring for the past 10 years, due in part to an influx of white-collar foreigners who have driven up prices. The problem is compounded by Portugal being one of Western Europe's poorest countries.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Portugal election: Ruling AD wins, stays short of majority
Portugal's Socialist Party secretary general Pedro Nuno Santos (AP) Portugal's ruling center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won the most seats in Sunday's general election but again fell short of a ruling parliamentary majority, while support for the far-right Chega party rose, near complete official results showed. There are just four seats left to assign in Portugal's 230-seat parliament. The AD took 32.7% of the vote, which would leave it short of the 42% required for an outright majority. The Socialist Party secured a 23.4% share of the vote, with the far-right Chega garnering 22.6%. The AD secured 29% of the vote in the last election in 2024, but that minority government collapsed this year. AD leader and acting prime minister Luis Montenegro has ruled out making any deal with Chega to form a coalition government. The pro-business Liberal Initiative (IL) was poised to take between 4% and 8%. The AD will likely have to forge deals with smaller parties in order to secure a majority of at least 116 seats in Portugal's 230-seat parliament. A second consecutive minority government would dent hopes that this latest election could bring stability to Portugal, which is seeing the worst period of political turmoil in decades. Confidence vote failure saw collapse of government This is the third election in Portugal in three years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Sunday's ballot was called just one year into the center-right minority government's term after Montenegro failed to win a vote of confidence in parliament in March. The confidence vote was proposed by Montenegro when the opposition questioned his integrity over the dealings of his family's consultancy firm. Montenegro has denied any wrongdoing, and most opinion polls showed voters dismissing the opposition's criticism. Challenge from the far-right The far-right Chega party, which Montenegro refuses to deal with, is slated to over-perform the 18% of the vote it was predicted to win ahead of the election. Exit polls suggest the last-minute health problems its leader Andre Ventura has suffered have not impacted its results. After undergoing hospital treatment twice in the past week due to an esophageal spasm, he made a surprise appearance at his party's final event on Friday. In the last election, Chega raised its seats in parliament from 12 to 50, owing much of its popularity to its demands for a tighter immigration policy. Long-term political instability in Portugal This year's election has been dominated by issues such as housing and immigration. The vote follows a decade of fragile governments, only one of which has had a parliamentary majority but still collapsed halfway through its term. Portugal has witnessed a steep rise in immigration. Fewer than 500,000 legal immigrants in the country in 2018, according to government statistics. However, by early this year, there were more than 1.5 million, many of them Brazilians and Asians working in tourism and farming. Thousands more are undocumented, and the outgoing government announced two weeks before the election it was expelling some 18,000 foreigners living in the country unauthorized. Similarly, a housing crisis has seen house prices and rents soaring for the past 10 years, partly due to an influx of white-collar foreigners who have driven up prices. House prices jumped another 9% last year, the National Statistics Institute, a government body, said. Rents in and around the capital Lisbon, where some 1.5 million people live, saw the steepest rise in 30 years, climbing more than 7% last year, the institute said. The problem is compounded by Portugal being one of Western Europe's poorest countries. The average monthly salary last year was around €1,200 ($1,340) before tax, according to the statistics agency. The government-set minimum wage this year is €870 ($974) a month before tax.
