Portugal is facing a third national election in three years, following the collapse of the central right government in Louis Montenegro.
Montenegro’s minority government lost its vote of trust in Parliament amid questions about the Prime Minister’s actions, bringing the worst political instability to Portugal’s 51 democracy.
With a population of around 10.6 million, Portugal has lost its vote for the growth of small parties in recent years as a traditional rival of power, a central social democrat and a central left socialist.
On Friday, both Montenegro and Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos held their final campaign rally.
“For two days we will win these elections. No one can stay home. Only the Socialist Party can bring stability, political stability and direction to Portugal.
Montenegro said at the meeting: “For many years, we have not felt that power in believing in what we can do as a nation, as a nation, as a community, as a force within us.”
Political instability
The vote deepens political uncertainty just as Portugal is in the process of investing more than 22 billion euros in the EU development fund.
Voters’ complaints about returning to the vote could result in dividends on far-right populist chega (sufficient), causing them to be unhappy with two mainstream parties.
Portugal was caught up in the European trend of populism, and Chega came in third in last year’s election.
The Social Democrat-led government, led by a small party, fell amid a controversy that revolved around a potential conflict of interest in business transactions for the resigned prime minister at the family law firm in Louis Montenegro.
Montenegro, which seeks re-election, has denied fraud.
He said he had control over the company in his wife and children’s hands when he became Social Democrat leader in 2022 and was not involved in the running.
Socialists requested a Congressional investigation into Montenegro’s conduct.
Social Democrats hope that economic growth will be estimated at 1.9% last year, compared to the EU average of 0.8%, with the majority of the EU unemployment rate at 6.4%, hoping to stabilize support.
The Portuguese president urged voters to actively participate in the third general election, a three-year, three-year general election, saying the continent faces harsh security and economic challenges that require political stability.
