Portugal election: centre-right coalition on course for narrow victory

Centre-right parties set to defeat incumbent socialists but fall well short of a majority, exit polls suggest

• Portugal election: centre-right ahead with far-right Chega potentially key, exit polls say – live updates

A coalition of Portuguese centre-right parties is on course to narrowly defeat the incumbent socialists but fall well short of a majority, exit polls have suggested, in a closely fought snap general election in which the far-right Chega party looks set to double its share of the vote and finish third.

Three polls, published shortly after voting ended at 8pm local time, indicate the Democratic Alliance – an electoral platform made up of the large Social Democratic party (PSD) and two smaller conservative parties – is forecast to finish ahead of the Socialist party (PS).