(Lisbon) The Portuguese Parliament paved the way for the convening of early parliamentary elections by rejecting on Wednesday the draft budget for 2022 of the socialist government of Antonio Costa, dropped by his former allies of the radical left.
As expected, the Left Bloc and the Communist Party voted alongside the right-wing opposition against the 2022 finance law submitted by the minority government, formed in 2015.
This failure, unprecedented since the advent of democracy in 1974, does not automatically imply the fall of the government or the anticipation of legislative elections initially scheduled for autumn 2023.
But conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was seeking to force a budget compromise to take full advantage of EU funds allocated in the context of the health crisis, warned that he would use his power of dissolution in the event of a deadlock.
“If the Assembly is not in a position to adopt a budget which is fundamental for the country, it would be positive to give the floor to the Portuguese,” he insisted on Wednesday.
Immediately after the vote, the Presidency of the Republic announced the holding of the legally required consultations so that the Head of State could dissolve Parliament and set the date of the elections. Mr. Rebelo de Sousa will receive the different parties on Saturday, before a “special meeting” of his Council of State next Wednesday.
Prime Minister’s “Frustration”
“The last thing the country needs […], it is a political crisis in these circumstances, for his part lamented the Prime Minister, who ruled out resigning on his own and promised to lead his camp in the event of an upcoming electoral contest.
“I hope that this frustration will turn into a stable and strengthened majority,” added Mr. Costa.
For the leader of the right-wing opposition, Rui Rio, “the elections must take place as soon as possible”, that is to say from January.
Antonio Costa came to power six years ago thanks to an unprecedented union of the left, motivated by the desire to put an end to the austerity policy implemented by the right in exchange for the bailout international granted to Portugal in 2011.
This fragile alliance – known to the Portuguese as “geringonça”, an expression for a makeshift team – had started to crack in the wake of the fall 2019 elections.
Winner, but remaining eight seats from the absolute majority, Mr. Costa then dispensed with negotiating new agreements with the radical left, preferring to seek their support on a case-by-case basis.
“Political hara-kiri”
A year ago, the 2021 budget was voted narrowly thanks to the abstention of the Communist-Green coalition and a small animalist party.
This year, the threat of a budget stalemate materialized on Monday when the Communist Party, following in the footsteps of the Left Bloc, announced its intention to speak out against the government’s plan, calling for more efforts in favor of the government. purchasing and utilities.
The scenario of anticipated legislative elections nevertheless risks penalizing all the forces present, with the exception of the extreme right which hopes to confirm its breakthrough in the presidential election of last January, commented the political scientist Paula Espirito Santo, of the University. of Lisbon.
In its desire to distance itself from socialist power, the radical left risks a “political hara-kiri”, while the Prime Minister and the President must now manage “the worst possible scenario for Portugal”, which expected to emerge from the health crisis thanks to the success of its vaccination campaign, she added.
On the right, the two conservative parties are also caught on the wrong foot, plagued by internal disputes and in need of a unanimous leader.