Summary:
Decisive week for Portugal's political landscape with a crucial confidence vote ahead.
Council of Ministers meets at the Prime Minister's residence before the parliamentary debate.
Luis Montenegro claims no alternative but early elections; emphasizes responsibility to avoid political turmoil.
Pedro Nuno Santos accuses Montenegro of wanting to drag the country down, asserting minority government won't gain trust.
Political crisis began in February over business dealings, raising concerns about public office regulations.
A decisive week is unfolding for Portugal's political landscape, as the government prepares for a crucial confidence vote. The Council of Ministers convenes this morning at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Palácio de São Bento, just ahead of the parliamentary debate scheduled for Tuesday, where the confidence motion presented by the government will be discussed and voted on. If the PS and Chega maintain their current stances, the motion is likely to be rejected.
Luis Montenegro, the leader of the opposition, has stated that there seems to be no alternative to early legislative elections, emphasizing his responsibility to ensure that Portugal does not become mired in turmoil. He stressed, "My responsibility, it seems there is no alternative to this, is to return to the Portuguese the ability they alone have to choose what they want for Portugal."
In response to Montenegro's remarks, the Secretary-General of the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos, accused him of wanting to drag the country down, asserting that the minority government will never have the trust of the largest opposition party.
On Sunday, Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz claimed that the socialists would be responsible for triggering new elections, urging Montenegro to allow the government to finish its program from the 2024 elections.
Tonight, at 21:00, the PS National Political Committee will meet, following a gathering of Pedro Nuno Santos with district federation leaders. The leader of the Lisbon Urban Federation, Carla Tavares, emphasized that the party is absolutely cohesive and urged the government to withdraw the confidence motion.
Meanwhile, André Ventura, leader of Chega, reiterated that there are no conditions to support the confidence motion. From the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua accused the Prime Minister of being overly focused on his political survival. In contrast, Paulo Raimundo, Secretary-General of the PCP, described the government's recent calls regarding the confidence motion as pressure and blackmail.
This political crisis began in February following a report by Correio da Manhã regarding Spinumviva, a family business linked to Montenegro, raising concerns about compliance with public office incompatibility regulations. The Assembly of the Republic President, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, called for the approval of the confidence motion in the name of the national interest.
The government has previously survived two motions of censure from Chega and the PCP.
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