Portugal will have an early parliamentary election on May 18, its third national poll in more than three years, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared on Thursday. The move came after the collapse of the minority centre-right government following a parliamentary confidence vote earlier this week.
Rebelo de Sousa’s long-expected decision to dissolve parliament followed talks with major parties and the consultative Council of State. The government will operate in caretaker mode until a new parliament is formed.
The scandal broke out when Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s administration came under fire for his family’s data protection consultancy business. The opposition had called for a parliamentary investigation, claiming that deals with private companies had enriched Montenegro financially as premier. Although Montenegro has dismissed any impropriety, prosecutors are examining the allegations, although no official investigation is being conducted.
In spite of the political unrest, Montenegro’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) reconfirmed him as its leader. Yet, according to most political observers, his management has led to another snap election. His alliance is found to have lost voter trust according to polls, and both his coalition and opposition Socialists are polling around 30% according to surveys.
There are still fears of extended instability, however, with the far-right Chega party still polling third, albeit just short of its 18% figure last time around. Portugal’s economy, meanwhile, has continued to prove robust, notching budget balances and lowering debt under both centre-left and centre-right administrations.
Amid growing frustration over repeated elections with little promise of stability, analysts predict an increase in voter abstention. Last year’s election saw record voter turnout, boosting anti-establishment parties, but whether history will repeat itself remains uncertain.
