LISBON, Portugal — 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.

Portugal has slid back into more political uncertainty after its third government fell in as many years when Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a confidence vote in Parliament.

Portugal’s parliament toppled Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s center-right minority government in a confidence vote Tuesday, likely leading the country to its third early election in just over three years.

Portugal’s minority government has lost a confidence vote in parliament, forcing its resignation and bringing the European Union country’s third general election in three 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.

The government of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has lost a vote of confidence, almost certainly pitching the country into its third general election in barely three years. MPs voted against him by 142 to 88 with no abstentions, toppling his right-of-centre minority government.

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.