New elections in Portugal: Conservative Prime Minister loses a vote on trust

Luís Montenegro pokered up to the last minute. But with his question of trust, the Portuguese Prime Minister had apparently gambled politically.

After only eleven months in office, the conservative head of the right minority government is expected to face new elections in May. The third elections are in over three years. Most recently, a new parliament was elected in Portugal on March 11th a year ago. On Tuesday evening, Montenegro only received the support of his government alliance and the small right-wing IL party. All other rights like left -wing parties voted against the 52 -year -old chairman of the conservative PSD. At first he had staged his question of trust as a relief, as a “necessary evil” to maintain the trust of voters. But as soon as the parliamentary debate had started on Tuesday, Montenegro rowed back. He offered to suspend the session immediately. A little later the offer followed to withdraw the application. After two hours, his conservative PSD party was even ready for the committee of inquiry, which the head of government rejected until then. The socialists had insisted that the parliament clarifies a possible conflict of interest in Montenegros because of a company in the possession of his family. The PS rejected such a commission as a farce. Then followed a break. There were assumptions that both sides could use the interruption for a deal, as it would not have been unusual in Portuguese consensus policy. A few minutes before the vote, the government actually followed up and, according to its own statements, offered 80 instead of 15 days for the committee of inquiry. But the socialists did not convince. It was a “shame” that Montenegro tried to withdraw with “tricks” and “extortion” of parliamentary control, said PS chairman Pedro Nuno Santos. He would only have had to withdraw his application to stay at the government. Montenegro said he “tried everything”, but the socialists had decided to stand up. Therefore, it is better to bring about clarification in the next two months instead of living in “permanent instability”. In the evening, Montenegro President Mercelo Rebelo de Sousa went to talk to him about the unpopular elections with an uncertain outcome. The president had already announced that he would start new elections in Montenegro’s defeat, possibly already on May 11th or May 18. First of all, the president must consult all parties and the State Council. Ultimately, the decision lies with him, but the brief but consequential crisis were press reports that the advisory company spinumviva of the head of government had received 4,500 euros from a casino and hotel group every month. The government will decide on its concession contracts this year. Montenegro claimed that he had already withdrawn from the company in 2022. At first his wife kept the most of the shares, and according to him, his sons have taken over it. Other allegations concern the company’s real estate transactions, which could have benefited from the new soil law, which facilitates the designation of building land in rural areas. Portugal was only before the end of the election marathon in 2023 the government of the socialist and today’s EU council president António Costa resigned due to allegations of corruption, which soon proved to be less absent. In early 2022, the socialists who had ruled since 2015 in early elections still won the absolute majority. Montenegro then formed a minority government in April 2024. He held his word and did not rule together with the right-wing populist Chega party with which he would have had a right majority. Until Tuesday, the socialists had helped him to survive politically with two requests for no confidence and with the adoption of the budget. In the debate, the PS showed the appearance as if it were forgetting to regenerate in the opposition. In recent surveys, the PS only had a narrow lead over the government alliance. Now Portugal is facing an election marathon. In autumn, local elections are regularly taking place across the country. A new president will then be elected in early 2026. Chega had recently bought in almost all elections. The party, which was only founded in 2019, is the third strongest political force in parliament. The right -wing populists competed with the promise to “clean” Portugal, but now have problems in their own ranks. Against three MPs are determined for the sexual abuse of a minor, the fiber theft and driving under the influence of alcohol. This does not detract from their popularity. “Chega is almost 18 percent and aims to win the next elections. It is time to get rid of the PS and the PSD once! ”, The party announced in the evening on the X.

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