Preaching to the non-practising: religiosity, Chega and electoral change in Portugal
Abstract
Portugal’s 2024 election marked a major electoral shift, driven by the radical right populist Chega. This article examines religious voting in 2024, situating it within trends since 2002. Crucially, 2024 changes previous patterns. Rather than separating the Socialist Party from the centre-right and the radical left, the religious divide is relocated, distinguishing Chega from other parties. Despite its religious populism, Chega fails to mobilise practising Catholics, suggesting a vaccine effect, whereby regular churchgoers are comparatively resistant to voting for the radical right. Instead, it draws disproportionate support from cultural Catholics, who identify as Catholic but do not attend church. Overall, the study demonstrates how religious populism can reconfigure religious voting.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Religion and Society Interactions
Political Systems and Governance
Religion and Society in Latin America
Publication details
- Journal / source
- South European Society & Politics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 241–272
- Publication date
- 3 April 2026
- Language
- EN