By Sergio Goncalves, Catarina Demony and Andrei Khalip MADRID (Reuters) -Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won a snap parliamentary election on Sunday but again fell short of the majority needed to end a long period of instability as the far-right Chega gained a record share of the vote.

Portugal is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature of 230 members, elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms. On March 13, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dissolved parliament and called a snap election for May 18, marking the country's third early parliamentary election in less than four years.

Portugal’s center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) is projected to win the country’s third general election in as many years, according to projections published Sunday night after polls closed. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s AD party is expected to improve its results from the 2024 election, mainly at the expense of the Socialist Party.