Portugal's president on Thursday announced a snap legislative vote for May 18 -- the third national election in barely three years -- after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro resigned over a conflict of interest dispute.

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.

The Socialist Party (PS), the main opposition party, and the far-right Chega party both voted to bring down the government, and the country's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must now decide whether to dissolve the assembly and call new elections.

Portugal looks likely to go to the polls for the third time in three years, political parties indicated on Wednesday, after Luis Montenegro resigned as prime minister in a conflict of interests row. Portugal's attorney general Amadeu Guerra said on Wednesday that he had received three complaints about the family business of the prime minister.

Portugal's prime minister proposed on Wednesday a confidence vote in his year-old minority government, risking his own dismissal as the main opposition parties vowed to defeat him.

Portugal’s president announced a snap legislative election for May 18, the third national vote in just three years, following Prime Minister

Portuguese voters are becoming increasingly frustrated with the country's political elites as another snap election looms - without any signs that it will bring stability. Portugal's centre-right minority government collapsed on Tuesday after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a confidence motion,

Voters in Portugal may be asked to go to the polls for the third time in as many years after the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro loses a vote of confidence. "People have become very disillusioned with the political class,