LISBON — Portugal's centre-right minority government collapsed on Tuesday (March 11) after losing a vote of confidence, with the country now likely to head into its third early general election in as many years.

Political scientist Adelino Maltez of Lisbon University pointed to opinion polls showing very little change in voter preferences from the March 2024 election, in which Montenegro's Democratic Alliance (AD) won by a mere 1,500 votes, securing 80 seats in the 230-seat house.

Portugal’s minority government has lost a confidence vote in parliament, forcing its resignation and bringing the European Union country’s third general election in three years.