Portugal's Government Collapses: PM Luís Montenegro Resigns Amid Family Business Scandal

World News: Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro failed to win a vote of confidence in parliament, causing his government to fall. The government, which lasted less than a year, had to resign. Of the 224 lawmakers who attended, only the Social Democratic Party of Montenegro the People's Party and the Liberal Initiative supported him. The Socialist Party (PS), the far-right Chega, the Left Bloc the Communist Party Livre and the sole MP from the PAN voted against him, Xinhua news agency reports.

The government lasted less than a year 
The exact vote count was not immediately available, but Parliament Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco said the centre-right government had been defeated. The two-party coalition government led by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has been in power for less than a year, has just 80 seats in the current 230-seat legislature. 

Luís Montenegro Steps Down
 President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to dissolve parliament and call a snap election, which he has previously suggested could take place on either May 11 or May 18.

 Portuguese PM Resigns, Triggering Political Crisis  
After two previous confidence motions, he himself initiated the vote of confidence
Montenegro initiated the vote of confidence himself, following two previous confidence motions during his term. His leadership had been called into question due to a conflict of interest scandal involving a family-owned business.

Government Falls in Portugal
As the leader of the centre-right Democratic Alliance, Montenegro will become prime minister in April 2024 after winning the general election. However, his coalition won only 80 seats in the 230-seat parliament, while the PS got 78 seats and the right-wing Chega got 50 seats.