Portugal will hold an early parliamentary election - its third in just over three years - on May 18, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Thursday, two days after the centre-right minority government lost a parliamentary confidence vote.

Portugal will hold an early general election on May 18, the country’s president announced Thursday, two days after a minority government lost a confidence vote in parliament and stood down. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,

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.

Portugal is likely to face its third early parliamentary election in just over three years after the centre-right minority government lost a parliamentary confidence vote. The government stays on in a caretaker capacity following Tuesday's vote,

Portugal looks likely to go to the polls for the third time in three years, political parties indicated on Wednesday, after Luis Montenegro resigned as prime minister in a conflict of interests row. Portugal's attorney general Amadeu Guerra said on Wednesday that he had received three complaints about the family business of the prime minister.