Portugal’s third general election in three years has failed to deliver the result that could break the worst spell of political instability for decades in the European Union country of 10.6 million people.

LISBON - Portugal's far-right Chega won a record vote share in Sunday's snap election and was vying to become the main opposition party as the ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) again fell short of a majority needed to end a long period of instability.

Portugal's incumbent centre-right party won the most seats in the country's third general election in three years but again fell short of a parliamentary majority, while support for the far-right Chega rose.

Voters in Portugal are returning to the polls for a third general election in three years, as the country’s increasingly fragmented political landscape defies efforts to unite behind policies on pressing national issues such as immigration,