Portugal Announces Early Elections Following Government Collapse
In a pivotal political development, the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has announced the dissolution of parliament and has scheduled early elections for May 18. This call for elections marks the third electoral event in just four years, following previous elections held in March 2024 and January 2022.
The urgency for these early elections stems from the recent fall of the government, when Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was ousted by parliament on Tuesday. Representing the center-right, Montenegro had been leading a minority government since April 2024 but faced accusations from the opposition regarding a conflict of interest tied to his involvement in a company that has clients engaging with the government.
The motion of no confidence that led to Montenegro's ousting was backed by the two principal opposition parties: the center-left Socialist Party and the far-right Chega party. Together, these parties control 128 of the 230 seats in the Portuguese parliament, highlighting the challenge Montenegro faced in maintaining his leadership amidst growing discontent.
Interestingly, the vote in favor of the motion also saw support from parliamentarians belonging to the parties that form the Democratic Alliance, Montenegro's own governing coalition, which includes the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democrat-Social Peoples Party.
Looking ahead to the upcoming elections, Montenegro is set to be the candidate for the center-right alliance once again, while Pedro Nuno Santos will represent the Socialist Party. Current polling suggests a slight lead for the center-right coalition over the socialists, with Chega projected to secure the position of the third-largest party.
Given this political landscape, analysts predict that the composition of the parliament may remain relatively unchanged, raising concerns about the potential for forming a stable government post-elections. The ongoing political instability and the recurring electoral cycle underscore the challenges facing Portuguese democracy as it navigates this tumultuous period.
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