Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The right -wing government of Portugal has lost a vote of confidence in parliament by potentially pushing the country of the European Union (EU) to its third general elections for three years.
The government has “tried everything to the last minute to avoid clicking elections,” Portugal Right-Right-Right Prime Minister Luis Montenegro told reporters after a vote on Tuesday night.
The legislators voted 142-88, with zero restraints, against the proposal for confidence that Montenegro presented after the opposition called into question the integrity of his transactions related to the consulting firm, which he founded.
The Portuguese media have reported that the company, which is now run by Montenegro sons, has contracts with several private companies that rely on government contracts.
Montenegro, who had already experienced two votes for distrust, denies any misconduct.
“The insinuation I mixed my business and political activities is completely violent and even offensive. Repeated lie does not become the truth, but it pollutes the political environment … This is what populism feeds, “he told parliament before the vote.
Pedro Nuno Santos, the leader of the Socialist Party, the largest opposition party in the country, described the government's behavior as “shameful”, saying that it resorted to “maneuvers, games, tricks” to survive.
Montenegro became Prime Minister after socialist Antonio Costa resigned in November 2023 under the shade of the corruption probe.
Costa, who denies allegations of influence that equalized him, was elected head of the EU European Council in June 2024.
The Montenegro Administration will already take on the role of a viewer.
After the vote, it now depends on the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebello de Susa, whether he calls parliamentary elections after he consulted with the main political parties on Wednesday and his advisory council on Thursday.
De Susa said a new vote could be held in mid -May.
Minority governments and increasing extreme right
Montenegro's Right -Right Alliance Coalition in Montenegro won the March 2024 election, but occupies only 80 seats in the legislative power in 230 seats in the country. The Socialist Party, which previously held a government, won 78 seats.
In contrast, the hard-to-do Portugal Cassation Party won 50 seats, more than four times larger than 12 seats that he had earlier.
At that time, Montenegro turned off working with the CAGA, saying “Does not mean no” To form a government with the party, which acquires votes in a campaign of an anti -migration platform.
Political scientist Adelino Maltes of the University of Lisbon said that public opinion studies show a very small change in the preferences of voters in the March 2024 election. AD and socialists are in the neck and neck in most studies.
“The problem is that the new elections will not be categorical … Advertising and socialists are bound. This is a situation that will be difficult for them to navigate, “Maltes said.
The central pact between the Social Democrats of Montenegro and the Socialists was the only solution, despite the differences in their political proposals, he said. The two main rivals had such an agreement only once in parliament, between 1983 and 1985.
“If they don't, it will be the same instability soon,” Maltes said.
Voting without trust on Tuesday indicates the worst spell of political instability after Portugal adopted a democratic system more than 50 years ago after the 1974 carnation revolution, which put an end to a four decades dictatorship.
The early elections are everything, but now, but the voters are already showing election fatigue and disappointment with politicians.
“It seems like a joke, no one understands why there are new elections so soon. Politicians blame themselves, but they are all irresponsible, “said Joao Brito, a 70-year-old retired civil servant in the center of Lisbon.
