Cyabra exposes fake profiles and bot networks in Portugal's general election.

Cyabra, an AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has released an investigation into coordinated manipulation campaigns ahead of Portugal's general election. The report, "Fake Voices, Real Votes," found that fake profiles and bot networks are reshaping political discourse and voter sentiment. Inauthentic profiles attempted to boost the far-right Chega party while discrediting its rivals. The investigation was featured by CNN Portugal.

Portugal's political landscape remains in flux following the recent snap election, with the Democratic Alliance (AD) failing to secure a majority despite a slight increase in seats. The centre-right AD, led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, garnered 32% of the vote, translating to 89 seats in the 230-seat Assembly. This result, while an improvement from the previous coalition, still falls significantly short of the 116 seats needed for outright governance [1].

The election saw a notable rise in the far-right Chega party, which secured 58 seats, matching the Socialist Party (PS) for second place. The PS, under Pedro Nuno Santos, lost 20 seats, reflecting voter discontent over the snap election, which was triggered by Montenegro's minority government failing a confidence vote due to scrutiny over his past involvement with a data consultancy firm [1].

Turnout was reported at 64%, an increase from the 2024 election, despite concerns over voter fatigue. The election was dominated by issues such as housing, public services, and rising costs of living, with immigration also being a prominent topic [1].

Adding to the complexity of the political situation, an AI platform, Cyabra, has released a report titled "Fake Voices, Real Votes." The investigation found that coordinated manipulation campaigns, involving fake profiles and bot networks, attempted to boost the far-right Chega party while discrediting its rivals. The report was featured by CNN Portugal, highlighting the extent to which inauthentic profiles are reshaping political discourse and voter sentiment [2].

The uncertainty surrounding Portugal's political future is compounded by the fact that Montenegro may need to rely on tacit or indirect support from the Socialists to form a workable minority government. The PS leader, Santos, announced his resignation shortly after the results, expressing opposition to supporting an AD-led government. The frontrunner to succeed Santos, José Luís Carneiro, must be confirmed by an extraordinary congress, potentially delaying government formation negotiations [1].

Portugal's constitution does not impose a fixed deadline for appointing a new government, nor does it stipulate automatic dissolution of parliament if a government cannot be formed. However, it prohibits fresh snap elections within six months of a vote or during the final six months of a presidential term. Given that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa's term ends in March 2026, the earliest a new election could be called would be in late spring 2026 [1].

The election results reflect a broader trend of political fragmentation in Europe, with traditional parties losing ground and emergent forces gaining traction. The outcome underscores the need for robust mechanisms to combat disinformation and ensure the integrity of the democratic process [1].

References:
[1] https://eutoday.net/portugals-centre-right-wins-election-without-majority/
[2] https://www.cnnportugal.com/2025/05/20/disinformation-in-portugals-election/