The Rise of the Portuguese Radical Right: Nationalist and Patriotic Unfolding

After decades of marginal presence, the Portuguese Radical Right has experienced exponential electoral growth. This study analyses the underlying forms of nationalism shaping this development. Four Portuguese radical right‐wing parties are examined through their party programmes and public statements on citizenship acquisition and national sovereignty during the 2024 and 2025 legislative periods. The findings reveal the coexistence of a Nationalist Right grounded in ethnonationalism and a Patriotic Right centred on civic nationalism. The electorally dominant party, Chega , founded only in 2019, embodies a form of lightweight ethnonationalism: It promotes a Jus Culturae citizenship model that aims to preserve a White native majority while selectively incorporating culturally and linguistically similar groups of Portugal's ancient imperial space. The effects of such a gradual admixture are discussed together with the mechanisms underlying this amalgamation of nationalism styles and the possible trigger for the recent rise of the Portuguese Radical Right.