Portugal's president disbands parliament, calls election on May 18

Portugal will hold an early parliamentary election - its third in just over three years - on May 18, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Thursday, two days after the centre-right minority government lost a parliamentary confidence vote, Reuters reports.

The president made the widely-expected decision to disband parliament and call the national ballot after consulting the main political parties and his advisory Council of State, which includes representatives of the main political parties and which he said unanimously opted for the need of a snap election, according to Reuters.

The government has assumed a caretaker role until a new parliament is formed.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro presented the confidence motion last week after the opposition threatened to establish a parliamentary inquiry into his family's data protection consultancy, arguing that its contracts with private companies have benefited Montenegro as premier. PM Montenegro has denied any conflict of interest or ethical shortfalls. Prosecutors are studying some allegations, but there is no active investigation underway.