If the Portuguese Socialist Party came out on top in these early general elections on 30th January last, followed by the Social Democratic Party, i.e. the conservatives, it was the nationalist and populist Chega party, i.e. “that’s enough” which came in third position with 12 deputies.
The Prime Minister, Antonio Costa had remained in parliament thanks to an alliance with the extreme left and the Communist Party. But rainy clouds swept over the prime minister’s head when his parliamentary allies criticized the draft budget presented by the Costa government in 2021.
For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Republic, and conservative, the time had perhaps come to give impetus to the Portuguese right in the face of parliamentary disagreement from the left. It must be said that these early legislative elections are due to the parliamentary disagreement last October between the far left, the Communists and the Socialist Party.
Antonio Costa’s message during the campaign went well. It was not “after me the disaster”, but rather “why stop in such a good way”. It must be said that after the right-wing governments which had governed by the budgetary rigor imposed by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union, the arrival at the head of the Portuguese government in 2015 of Antonio Costa, and not the having never left since, Antonio Costa continued to govern through budgetary rigour, but understood that it was necessary to give a little air from the sea, that is to say oxygen at the level of the minimum wage, pensions, companies, as well than in terms of purchasing power.
But then came the pandemic, and Portugal fell into anguish and it was an admiral who had the mission to carry out a quasi-military vaccination plan, which, it must be said, was given with a bang. Thus, this electoral meeting for the Portuguese on January 30, corresponded to a national will, no political change in a pandemic crisis, moving forward, finding hope…
Yes, maybe, couldn’t tomorrow be better than yesterday? Perhaps this is what the majority voters said to themselves in the last election. Today, Antonio Costa has carte blanche for the continuation of his policy, he will be able to vote on his new draft budget, will benefit from the funds of the European recovery plan with 16.6 billion euros until 2026, i.e. the end of his current term.
It should be noted that Portugal’s GDP grew by 4.9% in 2021, unheard of since 1990, that its presidency at the head of the Council of the European Union, from January to June 2021, was welcomed by the all European partners.
So Portuguese euphoria to come perhaps, we hope. For the time being, Antonio Costa tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday February 1, and must respect a seven-day isolation. Seven days of isolation to better concentrate and gain height in the face of this new mandate which could be decisive for Portugal, a way out of evils and crises?