Prime Minister Antonio Costa, dropped by the far-left parties who supported him since 2015, promised to campaign to get “a reinforced, stable and sustainable majority”. The right opposition is prey to internal divisions.
Le Monde with AFP and Reuters
The poll would normally have been organized in the fall of 2023. But the Portuguese president, the Conservative Marcelo Rebelo of Sousa, announced, Thursday, November 4, the dissolution of Parliament and the convocation of anticipated parliamentary elections on January 30th In order to overcome the impasse caused by the rejection of the budget for 2022 of the socialist government, breaking with his old far-left allies.
The some nine million voters will be called upon to the polls for the third time in the space of one year, after the last January presidential election and the municipal by the end of September.
The rejection of the budget “has totally reduced the government support base”, while 2022 will be “a decisive year for the lasting exit of the pandemic and the social crisis that has hit us,” said the chief of the state in a televised speech on Thursday night. “In moments like this, in democracy, there is always the solution, without drama or fear (…), to give the floor to the people,” said the head of state. The Council of State, an advisory body, approved Wednesday the proposal of Marcelo Rebelo of Sousa to dissolve Parliament after the rejection of the draft budget.
Antonio Costa, arrived in 2015 at the head of a minority government supported by the left block and the Communist Party, had already promised to campaign to get “a strong, stable and sustainable majority”. On the right, the two Conservative parties are prey to internal divisions that risk enjoying the Chega far-right party. The Leader of the Opposition, Rio Rio, risks his place during the internal elections scheduled for December 4, which will act as primaryly opposing the Europuté Paulo Ranél.
Finance law for Restart the economy
Even before the rejection of the bill of finance for 2022, which plunged Portugal into the crisis a week ago, the President had warned that it would have the effective date of the legislative elections planned normally for Autumn 2023. The Head of State sought to force a compromise between the government and the parties of the radical left because, according to him, the law of finance was “fundamental” to revive the economy thanks to the European funds of the plan. post-covid recovery.
On October 27, the formations of the radical left voted alongside the right opposition to reject the finance bill submitted by the minority government, sealing the end of the Alliance which had allowed it to lead Portugal since the end of 2015.
While waiting for the organization of the ballot, Mr. Costa, who excluded to resign from his own chief and promised to carry out the Socialist Campaign, will remain at the head of a government to the reduced powers.