Tag Archive for: confidence

Crisis

‘Prime minister Luís Montenegro got himself into trouble’

Damaging soundbites in the media over business connections of the Prime Minister (PM) Luís Montenegro ( and other members of the executive) helped along by revelations in the renowned weekly newspaper Expresso that the PM’s family business Spinumviva receives a 4500 euros monthly retainer from the Solverde casino and hotels/spa franchise.

The weekly Sábado even goes further by suggesting that Montenegro’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) is creating a ‘familygate’, a scenario seeing numerous husbands, wives, cousins, sisters- and brothers-in-law promoted to high positions in government.

Political authorities have emphasized to give up on Spinumviva completely but this did not happen. Rui Rocha, leader of the liberal party (IL), stated that Montenegro has to decide ‘whether he wants to remain PM or to have a business, as the two things cannot be combined.‘

But it was the right-wing extremist party leader Ventura who further complicated the matter by saying ‘resign or present a motion of confidence, unless the Prime Minister is comfortable with being the new (corrupt) José Sócrates of Portuguese politics ’

Last Friday Montenegro declared that he is turning over his business to his sons without winding it up or giving up clients, something that various political parties had asked for. On Saturday night, the PM gave an address to the nation at the start of the news bulletins on TV, informing the country that he would be presenting a motion of confidence to Parliament.

However, by admitting a motion of confidence, he effectively puts the future of his minority government on even thinner ice as the country’s largest opposition party – the Socialists (PS) – are not willing to support this government and therefore cannot support a motion of confidence.

If the government falls, the country will be on its way to new elections – in a year which already has two election campaigns ahead – municipal elections in the autumn and presidential elections in early 2026 – at a time when Europe is in turmoil as a result of the US betrayal over Ukraine.

The shadow of the possible scenario of early elections though hovered over the country for just a few hours, when later that evening it turned out that no opposition party met the Prime Minister’s demand to admit a motion of confidence. Luís Montenegro was quick to consider this to be sufficient to continue governance. Nevertheless, the probability of early elections remains high.




Enjoy your week          Approveite a semana               (pic Sapo/Público)

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Discontent

Health, Housing, and Education top the list

Portugal is a dissatisfied country according to a recent opinion poll undertaken by the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE) for the newspaper Expresso. Housing, Education, Health, and Justice top the list of citizens’ complaints.

Instead of spending time on bilateral agreements forged overseas, the government of António Costa better figure out a solution for all ‘who suffer months or even years on waiting lists for a consultation at the National Health Service, and for the younger generations who have had their learning hijacked by the pandemic, lack of teachers and continuous strikes.’

Moreover, attention is needed to the ‘structural lack of homes, the incompetent Justice system, and the urgent necessity to draw up a national plan in ending the waste of water from dams and rivers’ in view of the increasing climate crisis.

Expresso’s interpretation of the poll stresses that – although in the past it has always been for granted that the State guarantees a certain quality of life, even to those who are struggling financially – in the poll even ‘quality of life’ is poorly rated with over 80% of the respondents showing utter dissatisfaction with life in general and nearly 90% not being satisfied with the availability of housing.

The combatting of corruption saw an 80% level of dissatisfaction.
In the opinion of the Eurobarometer over 90% of the Portuguese believe corruption is common in the country. Two-thirds consider that the level of corruption has increased compared to 2022.

Different regions showed different answers. For example, with regard to National Health, over 60% of citizens in the north were little or not satisfied whereas this number rises to more than 90% in the south (Algarve/Alentejo). Education too is perceived differently. In the north only 35% consider themselves to be satisfied with the quality of education offered by the State. In the Algarve/Alentejo region, the number falls to a mere 20%.

Regarding confidence in the Institutions, those questioned have the most confidence in the police (80%), Armed Forces (75%), their Parish council, and President Marcelo da Sousa (70%). The least confidence is demonstrated against political parties (80% do not trust them), the government (65% without confidence), 60% distrust parliament, 55% the media, and 50% the Catholic Church.

Citizens want more participation in political decisions. Over 80% want more referenda on ‘important matters’ and a sizable majority (75%) want changes in the electoral system so that people can vote more for individuals and less for parties.


Enjoy the week            Approveite a semana               (pic Público/Sapo)





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