🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[Mike88]

Former PM and President Cavaco Silva mocks Costa in an op-ed and trashes Rui Rio in a TV interview:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1532718044572700672

Exclusive: Cavaco Silva says that Rio's PSD “was a support for the PS” and “seemed like a regional party”

Former President and Prime Minister Cavaco Silva is making headlines in the last few days for an op-ed where he "mocks" Costa and a TV interview where he trashes Rui Rio's leadership in the PSD. This is not the first time the former President uses an op-ed to trash Costa and Rio, the last one was back in October 2021, but this one is raising eyebrows for using humor and irony to attack Costa. In the opinion piece, that is a direct response to Costa after the PM, in his swearing in speech, said that people should not be afraid of his majority because he fought a "previous majority" in the past, Cavaco "congratulated" Costa for his majority and now it's time for Costa to do "more and better" than Cavaco. He then listed all the reforms he did as PM, from privatizations to Constitutional reforms, adding that the PS was even against some of them, and ended his piece by saying that he "knows how much the PM likes reforming and promoting dialogue" and is certain that, with his majority government, "all will end well".

The opinion piece wasn't well received by the PS, and several PS MPs and members attacked and criticized Cavaco Silva. PM Costa responded by saying that Cavaco is much more worried with his place in his history, while Costa is worried with the Portuguese. The still PSD leader Rui Rio wasn't spared also. Cavaco accused the leader of his own party, in a TV interview, of being a "supporter" of the PS and that he let the PSD be constantly humiliated by the PS. At the same time, Cavaco said that he believes Luís Montenegro will be a strong opposition leader against the PS.

This has also created an "issue" in the PSD. A tweet by a PSD aligned pundit, that criticized Cavaco for being "sour and bitter" received a like from Rui Rio in the same social media. Several PSD members went to social media trashing Rio, and the like was ultimately deleted. Pressed by the media, Rio's team doesn't know how the tweet was liked by him, adding that the matter is "closed". Cavaco and Rio's relationship within the PSD is bad for some time now.

[Mike88]

PCP headquarters continue to be vandalized across the country. The Police say their are in alert.

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1532059684357582848

PCP headquarters vandalized: authorities say they are attentive and party considers “attack on freedom”. The far right praises the authors.

The fallout of the Communist's position regarding the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, is continuing to have a toll in the party. PCP headquarters across the country continue to be vandalized, mainly with graffiti insulting the party. Words like "You have blood in your scythe", "Russians=Communists" or "Shame" are the most seen in Communist headquarters facades. The police confirms they are in alert, but they have no idea who's behind these acts of vandalization and there are no open investigations so far. The PCP itself says these attacks are an "anti-democratic offensive with anti-communist bent", adding that this is also an attack against the democratic state and liberties. On social media, several rightwing and far-right groups are "celebrating" these attacks and praising their authors.

PS: Removed the PSD leadership from the title as it's over and done.

[Mike88]

Financial situation of parties: PSD remains the party with the highest assets and PS with the lowest in 2021.

Assets (equity) by party:

21,739,943€ PSD
18,735,374€ PCP
  2,357,470€ BE
     433,233€ PAN
     239,040€ CHEGA
       32,346€ IL
   -163,628€ CDS
-2,864,103€ PS

In terms of profits, that adds public grants, membership fees, donations and spending, PCP had the highest profits, followed by the PSD. IL is in last place:

+1,667,446€ PCP
   +976,112€ PSD
   +353,435€ PS
   +149,011€ CHEGA
     +66,961€ PAN
      -72,954€ BE
    -110,373€ CDS
    -114,607€ IL

[Mike88]

Some political headlines:

- Euthanasia legalization is back in discussion. Parliament will discuss and vote 4 project bills from PS, IL, BE and PAN, all very similar between them, and all four are expected to have an easy approval. The issue comes next. The two previous Euthanasia bills have been rejected by the Court and the other by a veto by President Marcelo, and for this 3rd one, the outcome is uncertain. Law experts say that the 4 proposed bills are clearly unconstitutional and President Marcelo has said that he will wait and see the final draft before making a decision. Adding to this, in the PSD things could also change on the matter as the new leader, Luís Montenegro, is against legalization and in favour of a referendum, which is the complete opposite of the still party leader Rui Rio. We'll see;

- The government is under fire, today, because of a report that says that Social Security is planning to cut food aid programs to 30,000 poor people. According to JN newspaper, Social Security sent an email to their district departments saying that they need to cut down the number of people with food aid, from a total of 120,000 to 90,000. People and volunteers on the ground are shocked with this decision, saying they even have families in waiting lists to be included in the food aid program, adding that in a time of rising inflation, this decision makes no sense. In reaction, the Social Security minister, Ana Mendes Godinho, said that this decision isn't a cut, but rather a revaluation, adding that anyone eligible will get aid;

- The Lisbon bike lane drama continues. After weeks of bitter arguments between Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD) and the leftwing opposition regarding the removal/readjustment of a bike lane is a Lisbon main avenue, Moedas removed his project and is now open to a technical study for his project. His idea is to remove one lane of this avenue's bike lane, and open it up for traffic. Moedas says he's tired of the politicization of all of this and that the mobility of the city cannot be put on hold, while the left opposition accuse him of playing the victim card;

- Former PM José Sócrates trips to Brazil are also in the news, again, as the Courts aren't buying his arguments and has now asked SEF (Border Control Agency) and INTERPOL for information about Sócrates' trips to Brazil. Because Sócrates case is in appeal, he cannot leave the country without informing the authorities, but he skipped and told the judge he doesn't have the need to inform the Courts;

[Mike88]

As expected, the four Euthanasia bills passed in Parliament. Now, a common bill will be drafted and sent to the President:

The results:

Euthanasia legalization bills:

PS bill: 128 Yes (107 PS; 8 IL; 6 PSD; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre) 88 No (63 PSD; 12 CHEGA; 7 PS; 6 PCP) 5 Abstained (PS 4; PSD 1)
IL bill: 126 Yes (106 PS; 8 IL; 5 PSD; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre) 88 No (63 PSD; 12 CHEGA; 7 PS; 6 PCP) 6 Abstained (PS 4; PSD 2)
BE bill: 127 Yes (107 PS; 8 IL; 5 PSD; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre) 88 No (63 PSD; 12 CHEGA; 7 PS; 6 PCP) 6 Abstained (PS 4; PSD 2)
PAN bill: 127 Yes (107 PS; 8 IL; 5 PSD; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre) 88 No (63 PSD; 12 CHEGA; 7 PS; 6 PCP) 6 Abstained (PS 4; PSD 2)

Euthanasia Referendum bill:

CHEGA bill: 147 No (117 PS; 9 PSD; 8 IL; 6 PCP; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre) 71 Yes (59 PSD; 12 CHEGA) 2 Abstained (PSD 2)

Now the bills will be merged in a single bill drafted by MPs and then sent to President Marcelo. The problem regarding the new bill lies in here. Marcelo hasn't said he will sign the bill, only said he will look at it and then decide, thus, he could sign it, veto it or send it to the Court. According to law experts, if the new bill goes back to the Constitutional Court, the most likely scenario is the rejection of the bill, which would bring the process back to square one, again. Adding to this, the new PSD leader, Luís Montenegro, is in favour of a referendum, which could shake things even more. We'll see.

[Mike88]

As expected, the four Euthanasia bills passed in Parliament. Now, a common bill will be drafted and sent to the President:

After the end of voting in the Chamber, there was high tension in the corridors of Parliament as a PSD MP and a CHEGA MP almost ended in violence. According to CNN Portugal, André Coelho Lima, PSD MP from Braga, and Pedro Frazão, CHEGA MP from Santarém, entered in a big brawl after the CHEGA MP called the PSD MP "miserable", during the euthanasia debate. Mr Coelho didn't heard the insult and was informed of it later and went to the CHEGA MP office to confirm it. But, everything escalated and shouting was heard all across the offices and, at one point, both had their foreheads almost touching. In the end, André Ventura was crucial in resolving the conflict and lowering the tension as he was able break up the fight.

[Mike88]

As expected, the four Euthanasia bills passed in Parliament. Now, a common bill will be drafted and sent to the President:

After the end of voting in the Chamber, there was high tension in the corridors of Parliament as a PSD MP and a CHEGA MP almost ended in violence. According to CNN Portugal, André Coelho Lima, PSD MP from Braga, and Pedro Frazão, CHEGA MP from Santarém, entered in a big brawl after the CHEGA MP called the PSD MP "miserable", during the euthanasia debate. Mr Coelho didn't heard the insult and was informed of it later and went to the CHEGA MP office to confirm it. But, everything escalated and shouting was heard all across the offices and, at one point, both had their foreheads almost touching. In the end, André Ventura was crucial in resolving the conflict and lowering the tension as he was able break up the fight.

I'm sure this procedure of passing four bills and then working out a "common one" is not unique to Portugal, but it sounds like a pretty strange thing. Did they do this to minimize the chance of the bill being rejected again?

It's more a chance to have a "photo opportunity" for parties. Normally, when there are bills proposed by different parties, they are almost always very similar between them, and these 4 Euthanasia bills are basically copypaste of each other. In some occasions, bills on a specific topic that are presented by different parties, have mix voting results with for example, PS+PSD voting in favour of their respective bills and then rejecting similar bills proposed by minor parties like BE, PCP, CHEGA, others. Just, usual party politics.

[Mike88]

Government under fire because of the chaos in NHS emergency rooms: Minister held several urgent meetings with doctors and unions.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1536441061597499392

Numerous hospitals across the country are no longer able to guarantee emergency services, namely obstetrics and gynecology. The Minister of Health spent the day in meetings about the problem, but so far there has been no explanation from the government.

For the last four days, chaos and closure of several emergency rooms, mainly of obstetrics and gynecology, have been topping the news. Hospitals across the country do not have enough doctors to attend pregnant women, and are sending patients to bigger hospitals, creating overcrowding in these hospitals. Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, the biggest in country, is having problems dealing with the overflow of pregnant women, and according to RTP, some babies had to be delivered in the nursery rooms. This controversy started after the death of a new born due to lack of doctors in a hospital in Leiria district.

Doctors and workers unions are blaming the government for not doing anything to attract doctors to the NHS, and during today, Health minister Marta Temido, held a series of meetings with these associations in order to find common ground and reach a possible solution. Coming out from the meetings, unions and associations felt disappointed and that no real solutions were given. The minister, on the other hand, told reporters that she knows that there are problems, especially in a time of holidays, and she will prepare a plan to mitigate these situations.

[Mike88]

Chaos in Hospitals: Health minister announces committee to coordinate services and will discuss raising extra payments for doctors.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1537151945927970822

Minister of Health explained contingency plan for the summer and medium-term measures. Overtime payment will have changes and Government wants to reduce dependence on stockmans

With the chaos in emergency rooms still dominating headlines, and after a chaotic press conference last Monday, Health minister Marta Temido announced several measures to reduce the pressure in Emergency rooms across the country. The minister announced that extra hours payments for doctors in hospitals will have changes and updates, and that there will be created a committee to coordinate/monitor gynecology, obstetrics and delivery block services and to resolve any issue across the country. Adding to this, the minister also announced she will open vacancies for 1,600 newly specialist doctors. However, the minister added that the Government is also considering signing deals with private hospitals to lower pressure in public hospitals. She also rejected any idea of resigning from the Government.

During the afternoon, PM Costa acknowledge that there are "structural problems" in the NHS, but the situation is unlikely to be resolved in the next few days as several hospitals, across the country, are announcing that several emergency services, specially gynecology and obstetrics, will be closed during the bank holiday this week.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper:

Vote share %:

34.3% PS (-0.2)
21.7% PSD (+3.2)
  8.2% CHEGA (+0.5)
  6.9% IL (+0.1)
  5.2% BE (nc)
  3.2% CDU (-0.4)
  2.7% PAN (-0.9)
  2.7% CDS (-0.2)
  1.2% Livre (-0.6)
  2.3% Others/Invalid (-0.6)
11.6% Undecided (-1.0)

Popularity ratings: (between 1 and 5)

3.2 António Costa (-0.1)
2.9 João Cotrim Figueiredo (-0.1)
2.8 Luís Montenegro (new)
2.8 Rui Tavares (nc)
2.6 Inês Sousa Real (nc)
2.6 Nuno Melo (nc)
2.6 Catarina Martins (+0.1)
2.1 André Ventura (+0.1)
2.0 Jerónimo de Sousa (+0.1)

Poll conducted between 8 and 14 June 2022. Polled 611 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

Health minister speaks in Parliament, as negotiations with unions fail and Finance minister says that the NHS doesn't have a money problem:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1537734859438817281

Minister of Health responds to MPs about problems in the NHS in an urgent debate convened by Chega.

Under immense pressure by parties and the media, minister Marta Temido went, this morning, to Parliament to explain the ongoing crisis in Emergency rooms across the country. Ms Temido said she would not explore deaths and suffering adding that the pandemic and the snap elections postponed solutions in the NHS. However, the opposition parties didn't bought the minister's words and attacked her. Visibly irritated by the oppositions remarks, Ms Temido heard the opposition trashing her positions and saying she's not up for the job. PCP and BE warned about using the private sector, while PSD, CHEGA and IL accused her of not having a plan and of pretending that the problems don't exist.

At the same time, meetings between the government and medical/nurses unions failed and no agreement was reached. Unions called the meeting a total "staging" by the government, and felt disappointed adding that the government only has a plan for 3 months and that the current crisis is not just "a 3 month" crisis. New meetings will be held next week. Also, Finance minister Fernando Medina took a stance and said that the NHS has no money problems, but rather a shortage of doctors, adding that the NHS is receiving more and more money each year.

[Mike88]

So a new leader "bounce" for the PSD, but only a modest one.

A small bounce indeed, however, Montenegro almost hasn't said a word since the 28 May election. Until the congress, in the first weekend of July, Rio is still the official leader of the party and Montenegro is just the "leader-elect", meaning that the party currently has "two leaders", sort off, and to not create confusion, the PSD has basically been quite low profile regarding several fiascos that are hitting the government hard: rising inflation/fuel costs, the food aid cut controversy and the ongoing chaos in NHS hospitals.

Only after 3 July things in the PSD will normalize, because many in the PS, and also pundits, are worried about a possible "hot summer" for the government if many controversies continue to dominate headlines.

[Mike88]

The picture that has become viral: A photo of President Marcelo kissing a pregnant woman's belly is receiving a lot of jokes and criticisms.

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1537817356533059584

Did Marcelo really kiss the belly of a pregnant woman? Story of a photo

A photo of President Marcelo kissing the belly of a pregnant woman has become viral in social media in the last few days, but many refused to believe that the photo was real and it was actually a fake. But, it's a real photo, captured by a Lusa agency photographer during the Lisbon St. Anthony marches, last June 12. Reactions have gone from joking to full criticisms to the President's lack of boundaries. While others say that this photo is pure Marcelo vintage, in which the President is pressing that Portugal is in an inclusive country. Others also point this could be a message regarding the ongoing chaos in NHS obstetrician emergency rooms, and or, a position against Euthanasia.

[Mike88]

Health minister speaks in Parliament, as negotiations with unions fail and Finance minister says that the NHS doesn't have a money problem:

PM Costa says he has full confidence in Marta Temido and says it's already "classical" the opposition demanding the resignation of a minister.

However, a controversial PS MP and pundit, Sérgio Sousa Pinto, has come forward and is defending that Health minister Marta Temido should resign as she doesn't have "any reformist agenda in an area that needs urgent reforms." He made these statements in a CNN Portugal program.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper on Covid and the Russia-Ukraine war:

Q1: Is the Government and Health authorities informing and managing well the ongoing surge in cases?

47.3% No
47.0% Yes
  5.7% Undecided

Q2: Did you agree with the end of mandatory masks in most places?

50.1% No
45.7% Yes
  4.3% Undecided

Q1: Is the EU doing everything they can to end the war?

61.2% No
26.4% Yes
12.4% Undecided

Q2: Do you agree with the rapid entry of Ukraine into the EU, even though not fulfilling the conditions required for other countries?

42.9% Yes
41.6% No
15.5% Undecided

Q3: The entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO is positive or negative for Europe?

62.5% Positive
18.8% Negative
18.7% Undecided

Poll conducted between 8 and 14 June 2022. Polled 611 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

Another controversy hits the Government: Social Security has cut by 25% the number of subsidies for special education.

https://twitter.com/JornalNoticias/status/1538419950167072769

Social Security cut a quarter of special education subsidies

After the food aid cut debacle, and with the ongoing crisis in the NHS still dominating headlines, the government is now hit by another controversy. According to Jornal de Notícias, families with disable children are being surprised by indiscriminate cuts in special education supports. According to the newspaper, between January and April 2022, more than 5,200 people are no longer receiving this support, a cut of 25% compared with the same period in 2021. The newspaper adds that, without this support, many children are not receiving education or treatment in the NHS, which could aggravate their condition.

[Mike88]

I bet that's making some people feel much better about handing a majority to the PS...

Many of the government's recent decisions are just jaw dropping. The food aid debacle, where charity associations received an email to cut food aid, received another email, days after the story broke, to forget the cuts and carry on. Probably this new controversy will have an identical outcome. The NHS crisis is also a slow trainwreck. And the media is actually saying in op-eds, that the government feels lost and without a path, not to mention that many pundits are pressing that Costa is much more engaged in foreign affairs than national affairs.

[Mike88]

The picture that has become viral: A photo of President Marcelo kissing a pregnant woman's belly is receiving a lot of jokes and criticisms.

God bless the Portuguese media...
https://twitter.com/CapasJornais/status/1538784995833442305

The baby blessed by Marcelo was born. Mariana gave birth 5 days after this moment. "When I found myself, he gave me a little kiss on the belly. I asked him for another one and he gave it."

[Mike88]

Parliament approves Ukraine's candidacy to the EU. PCP was the sole party voting against:

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1539700724753485825

War in Ukraine: Parliament approves Ukraine's accession to the European Union. PCP was the only one to vote against

After the Q&A debate between parties and the PM, Parliament voted a motion, proposed by Livre MP Rui Tavares, regarding Ukraine's candidacy submition to the EU. During the debate, PM Costa was accused by the opposition, mainly PSD, CHEGA and IL, of being skeptical to the Ukrainian candidacy, but the PS said that Costa was never skeptical and rather warned that the candidacy will not solve all of Ukraine's problems. The leftwing parties, BE, PAN and Livre, asked if Ukraine will also have debt forgiveness due to the war. PCP, on the other hand, said that EU sanctions to Russia should be reevaluated as they making prices and the cost of living rise. In the end the results of the vote were the following:

224 In favour (PS, PSD, CHEGA, IL, BE, PAN, Livre)
    6 Against (PCP)

[Mike88]

President Marcelo warns the people to "not get sick during the summer" in order to avoid pressure on the health care of others:

https://twitter.com/TSFRadio/status/1540006542266642432

Marcelo says that every Portuguese "will make the effort not to be sick" this summer

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned the Portuguese that the ongoing crisis in NHS emergency rooms means that everyone needs to be carefull and avoid getting sick during the summer, first for the sake of themselves, but also to avoid pressure in the NHS. The President's remarks:

Each one will make the effort not to be sick, for himself, and not to put pressure on the care of the health of others. Our parents reminded us of that when we were young, our friends too and our teachers. Therefore, policymakers can recall evidence.

These remarks follow a similar, but also viral for not the right reasons, speech made by the head of Health General Department, Graça Freitas, in which she said that the "worst thing that could happen to anyone is being sick in August", and also warned that the famous Braised Cod (Bacalhau à Brás) is dangerous as it leads to a lot of food poisoning.

I... just... I had to read both stories twice to believe these things were actually said.

[Mike88]

New Lisbon airport: Parties and media trash the government's decision while the Tourism sector and airport owners approve the plan.
 
https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1542260907543257089

The opinion was unanimous: the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic were against the Government's decision to move forward with the airports of Montijo and Alcochete.

The political world was shaked this Wednesday by the surprise announcement, from the government, that the new Lisbon airport will be in Alcochete, to open in 2035, but Montijo airport will also be built to be a complementary airport until Alcochete is completed and Portela is closed for good. These kind of announcements aren't new, they have already happened in the past, but this time everyone was caught by surprise. With Costa in Madrid in the NATO summit, no one, from parties to even the President, were informed that the government was planning to make this announcement. Opposition parties, left to right are trashing the government: PSD, CHEGA and IL accuse the government of "zigzags" and of bizarre decisions, while leftwing parties accuse the government of ignoring environment studies and of acting like they are "playing with the country". On their part, Tourism sector associations applaud the government's decision, as also does ANA airports, which manages the Portuguese airports and is controlled by French Vinci. The media accuses the government of making contradictory decisions and statements, and that the government is in the hands of French Vinci company.

The PS was the only party to not make a statement regarding this decision, a statement is expected for tomorrow, and minister Pedro Nuno Santos went to several TV channels to explain the decision. In the interviews he gave, Nuno Santos said that the country has had enough of studies and a decision is now made. Confronted by statements in which Nuno Santos criticized the Alcochete option, the minister responded that he maintains the current decision, but added that the government doesn't know, yet, how much will this cost and will conduct studies and budgets.

Speaking to reporters, President Marcelo said he knew nothing about the decision and was only informed by the media and the government's decree. He didn't made comments about the decision itself and will ask for more information from Costa.

[Mike88]

New Lisbon airport: Parties and media trash the government's decision while the Tourism sector and airport owners approve the plan.
 

Turmoil in government: Costa "fires" Pedro Nuno Santos from the government as the minister decided the new airport location without the consent of the Prime Minister.

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1542444291372584960

Government: Costa dismisses Pedro Nuno Santos

According to Público newspaper, the PM is furious by yesterday's decision by Pedro Nuno Santos regarding Lisbon's new airport location, as the decision was taken without the consent of the Prime Minister. Costa already reversed the Nuno Santos's decree from yesterday and, according to the newspaper, will fire Pedro Nuno Santos from cabinet during today if the minister doesn't tender his resignation.

Costa has a press conference in Madrid at 11:45am. More updates when available.

[Mike88]

Costa has a press conference in Madrid at 11:45am. More updates when available.

Costa is refusing to talk about the airport issue and the following political debacle in Madrid, saying that in foreign land, he will not discuss national issues. But, it's clear by his body language that he's furious.

[Mike88]

Update:

The media is now reporting that Pedro Nuno Santos is refusing to resign and is now waiting in the PM's office for Costa's return from the Madrid NATO summit. Nuno Santos was also absent from the cabinet meeting this morning.

Law experts also point that a PM reversing so publicly, and strongly, a minister's decree is almost unheard-of and that it could even raise legal issues, adding that this also signals the possible beginning of an internal war in the PS.

[Mike88]

Well... he didn't resign.

After his meeting with Costa, Pedro Nuno Santos made a statement saying he was sorry about the several errors in communication and said he's the sole responsible. However, he doesn't resign saying this episode doesn't stain the work he's doing and will carry on.

Media and pundits are stunned by this decision saying that the authority of the Prime Minister is strongly damaged and that the government is now completely dysfunctional. Pedro Nuno Santos is also perceived as completely humiliated and politically hurt.