Luis Montenegro, leader of the center-right Democratic Alliance, delivers a speech to supporters claiming victory in Portugal's election, in Lisbon, March 11, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

LISBON - Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Wednesday night announced the appointment of Luis Montenegro, leader of the Social Democratic Party, as the country's new prime minister following political consultations on forming a new government. 

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"Since the president ... has held consultations with the parties and coalitions of parties that ran in the March 10 elections for the Assembly of the Republic and won seats, and the Democratic Alliance won the elections in terms of seats ... he decided to appoint Luis Montenegro as prime minister," the president's office said in a statement.

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Montenegro's AD beat the incumbent Socialist Party in the March 10 elections but won just 80 seats, far short of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. The Socialist Party won 78 seats.

The new government is slated to assume office on April 2.

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Montenegro's political career began in the early 2000s when he joined the PSD. He quickly rose through the ranks, holding various positions within the party. In 2011, he was elected to the Portuguese Parliament as a representative for Aveiro, a city located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.