Luis Montenegro, leader of the center-right Democratic Alliance (center) and his wife Carla gesture to supporters after claiming victory in Portugal's election, in Lisbon, March 11, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

LISBON - The central-right Democratic Alliance (DA) led by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) obtained 28.9 percent of the votes in Portugal's legislative elections on Sunday, while the Socialist Party (PS) followed closely with 28.7 percent of the votes, according to preliminary official results.

The DA coalition, which consists of the PSD, the CDS-People's Party (CDS-PP) and People's Monarchist Party (PPM), is projected to garner 65 seats out of 230 deputies. Without an absolute majority, the alliance needs to negotiate with other parties.

The far-right Chega party is considered the biggest surprise of the elections. It won 18.1 percent of the votes with its campaign focusing on combating corruption and illegal immigration, and stimulating the private sector economy

According to the preliminary results from the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration after almost 98 percent of the votes were counted, the PS, which has dominated the parliament for nine years, will also conquer 65 seats in the parliament.

The result strengthened the main opposition party PSD, which has Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as one of its strong leaders.

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The far-right Chega party is considered the biggest surprise of the elections. It won 18.1 percent of the votes with its campaign focusing on combating corruption and illegal immigration, and stimulating the private sector economy.

Today's elections helped Chega more than double the number of its representatives in the parliament, totaling 42 seats.

The turnout rate on Sunday was 46 percent of more than 10.8 million voters in Portugal and abroad, the highest in the last 15 years, according to the projections.

"In terms of mandates, there is practically a tie between PS and DA. In terms of votes, there is a very proximity," said Antonio Costa, the PS' prime minister of the caretaker government.

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Sunday's snap election came after Costa's resignation in November. His resignation was prompted by allegations of corruption in lithium and hydrogen exploitation contracts, leading the Public Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation into the matter.