Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the dissolution of parliament on March 19 and called for snap elections on May 18. This follows a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, amid conflict of interest allegations. The upcoming elections will be Portugal’s third in 2023 and feature Montenegro against Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos.
On Thursday, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made an announcement to dissolve the country’s parliament effective March 19 and called for snap national elections on May 18. This decision comes in the wake of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, a member of the center-right political party. Opposition parties have highlighted potential conflicts of interest due to Montenegro’s affiliations with Spinumviva, a family-owned data protection firm.
These upcoming legislative elections will be the third held in Portugal since 2023, occurring just 14 months after the last electoral process. Such a brief interval suggests that the political context in the country remains largely intact. Montenegro will represent the center-right Democratic Alliance once again, while Pedro Nuno Santos will lead the Socialist Party in this electoral contest.
In summary, the announcement of snap elections in Portugal is a significant political development, prompted by the recent no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. Given the recency of prior elections, the political landscape may not change drastically. As the parties prepare for the upcoming vote on May 18, the dynamics between the Democratic Alliance and the Socialist Party will be critical to observe.
Original Source: www.politico.eu
