Portuguese president nominates Luis Montenegro as PM

Lisbon -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday nominated Luis Montenegro as prime minister, following legislative elections and consultations with parliamentary parties.

Montenegro, leader of the Democratic Alliance (AD) and president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), was asked to form a government after the AD coalition won the most seats in the May 18 snap elections, though it fell short of an absolute majority.

The appointment will be formalized after the final election results are confirmed and the newly elected Assembly of the Republic holds its first session.

Support for Montenegro's nomination came after separate meetings with Andre Ventura, leader of the far-right Chega party, and Carlos Cesar of the Socialist Party (PS). For the first time in its history, the PS fell to third place in Parliament -- a result widely described as unprecedented and politically damaging.

Chega secured 60 seats, overtaking the PS, while the AD won 91 seats in the 230-member legislature. Although short of a majority, the AD is expected to lead a minority government with conditional backing from Chega and/or the PS.

President Rebelo de Sousa confirmed that Montenegro was only granted the mandate to form a government after both Chega and the PS assured him they would support the installation of the new Executive and enable conditions for stable governance.

Portugal, a parliamentary republic, held its third snap election in under four years on May 18, following the dissolution of Parliament by the president on March 13.