Portugal’s parliament has rejected the government’s motion of confidence, marking a major political turning point exactly one year after the 2024 elections. The vote on Tuesday evening saw the Socialist Party (PS), Chega, Bloco de Esquerda (BE), PCP, Livre, and PAN uniting against the government, effectively bringing it down. Meanwhile, the Liberal Initiative (IL) stood as the only opposition party supporting the motion, while the governing bloc, PSD and CDS-PP, voted in favor.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro made multiple appeals to the Socialists to find a solution to avoid new elections. However, the PS firmly refused to compromise, sticking to its decision to oppose the government’s motion.
15-Day Inquiry Proposal Rejected
In a last-ditch effort to resolve the political standoff, the government proposed establishing a parliamentary inquiry commission. This commission would provide essential clarifications within a 15-day period to break the deadlock. Minister Pedro Duarte called the proposal “constructive,” emphasizing that it aimed to prevent further political gridlock and restore order.
However, PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos dismissed the offer, demanding a more comprehensive investigation lasting at least 90 days. He accused the government of initially seeking a “private inquiry” and insisted that negotiations with the administration were off the table.
Following nearly five hours of heated debate, the confidence vote was held after a one-hour suspension. The result was decisive, with the motion failing and leaving the government in a precarious position.
Government and Opposition Locked in Open Conflict
Prime Minister Montenegro remained steadfast in defending his administration’s actions, asserting that he had already provided adequate explanations and faced two motions of no confidence. “My professional activity has had no political influence, and my political activity has no business influence,” Montenegro declared.
He reaffirmed his willingness to offer further clarifications before various authorities, including the parliamentary commission, the Attorney General’s Office, or the Transparency Authority. However, PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos demanded that Montenegro withdraw the confidence motion entirely and accept the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry.
The PS also refused Montenegro’s offer to hold private discussions to resolve the matter. Instead, they insisted that all clarifications should be made publicly and follow established legal and regulatory procedures through the parliamentary inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Initiative stood out as the only opposition party supporting the government’s motion, expressing frustration over both the government and the opposition’s handling of the crisis.
Prime Minister Montenegro argued that the PS could have avoided this instability by simply abstaining from the vote rather than outright rejecting the motion. As the political crisis deepens, Portugal faces an uncertain future, with new elections becoming an increasingly likely outcome.
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