Portugal's president has announced that the country will hold an early general election on May 18. His announcement Thursday came two days after a minority government lost a confidence vote in parliament and stood down.

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

Portugal held its last general election in March 2024 following the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister António Costa, who stepped down after authorities launched an influence-peddling investigation focused on several members of his administration. Costa is now the president of the European Council.

Portugal could be headed for its third general election in three years after parliament scheduled a confidence vote next week on the center-right minority government, which has been under pressure for weeks over the business ties of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

Portugal’s parliament on Tuesday rejected the vote of confidence presented by the center-right government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, leaving the door open to possible early elections. The unicameral assembly rejected the motion with the votes of the Socialist Party (PS),

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro lost a confidence vote triggered by an ethics scandal, with Portugal now facing its third general election in four years.

The government, led by the Social Democrats in an alliance with a smaller party, fell amid a controversy that has revolved around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of outgoing Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's family law firm.