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On Sunday, Portugal will have an early general election in which 10.8 million voters will select 230 representatives for the National Assembly, the nation’s parliament. The elected representatives will then appoint a fresh government.
The two moderate parties that have taken turns ruling for many years – the Socialist Party on the center-left and the Social Democratic Party on the center-right – are predicted to secure the majority of votes once more.
However, a far-right populist party is seizing on disillusionment with traditional political parties and may contribute to Europe’s shift towards the right.
The following are the main concerns that have been central to the campaign:
CORRUPTION SCANDALS
A corruption probe led to the collapse of a Socialist government in November, prompting the current election. The probe involved a police raid at Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s residence and the subsequent arrest of his chief of staff. There have been no accusations of wrongdoing against Costa.
Recently, a court in Lisbon ruled that a former prime minister from the Socialist party, who held office from 2005 to 2011, will face trial for allegedly embezzling around 34 million euros ($36.7 million) while in power.
The Social Democratic Party has additionally faced disgrace due to accusations of corruption.
A recent probe into corruption on the Madeira Islands in Portugal led to the stepping down of two influential members of the Social Democratic Party. The scandal emerged on the day the party unveiled a billboard in Lisbon condemning corruption with the phrase, “This cannot continue.”
A political group called Chega, also known as “Enough,” that has been active for 5 years and follows radical right ideology, has made anti-corruption a key focus in their agenda. Their popularity may increase due to recent scandals.
A HOUSING CRISIS
The European Union’s statistics indicate that in Portugal, housing prices increased by approximately 80%, and rents went up by around 30% from 2010 to the second quarter of last year. These jumps in cost far surpassed the growth of wages.
A significant rise in prices has occurred in the past few years, primarily due to an increase in foreign investors and tourists looking for short-term rental properties. This shift has greatly affected major cities, such as Lisbon, where many residents can no longer afford to purchase homes.
Last year’s increase in mortgage rates and inflation exacerbated the issue.
LOW PAY
For a while, the Portuguese have been at the bottom of the pay scale in Western Europe. This is a source of frustration and the most recent demonstrations against low salary have been led by police officers.
In the previous year, the average income per month before deducting taxes was approximately 1,500 euros ($1,630), which was just enough for renting a single-bedroom apartment in Lisbon.
More than 800,000 individuals receive a monthly salary of 820 euros (equivalent to $893). This amounts to a take-home pay of 676 euros ($736). A significant number of Portuguese workers, about 3 million, earn below 1,000 euros ($1,090) per month.
Low economic growth and productivity have limited income growth. From 2000 to 2022, the average yearly increase in GDP per person was approximately 1%. The economy seems to be caught in a slow pace.
Portugal’s gross domestic product per person has consistently been below 80% of the European Union’s average since 2011 and prior to that, it has never exceeded 83%.
THE LEADING CANDIDATES
Pedro Nuno Santos, a socialist leader, serves as a legislator and has previously held the position of housing and infrastructure minister.
Santos, 46, quit the previous government under a cloud over his handling of bailed-out flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and an unresolved dispute over the site of a new Lisbon airport.
When he was younger, he used to own a Porsche, but he didn’t feel comfortable having it due to his family’s successful business interests in northern Portugal, so he ended up selling it.
At the age of 51, Luis Montenegro is the leader of the Social Democratic Party and a lawyer who has been a lawmaker for 16 years. He first joined Parliament at 29 years old.
He is the leader of the Democratic Alliance, a coalition of mostly smaller right-of-center political parties established for the purpose of the election. He has never held a position in the Portuguese government.
In 2017, authorities looked into allegations that Montenegro had been given expenses-covered trips to football matches by a media corporation, but ultimately dismissed the matter.
Andre Ventura, the 41-year-old leader of Chega, is not likely to become prime minister. However, there is a possibility that his party’s increased support after the election could result in him having a significant role.
Ventura has a diverse work history. He transitioned from being a lawyer and professor with a focus on tax law to a lively TV commentator for soccer, a writer of less serious literature, and a loud public speaker during political campaigns.
Source: independent.co.uk
