🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 2.0

[Mike88]

Euthanasia bill: Just 4 judges clearly say the bill violates the Constitution, the rest of the judges believe an adaptable bill can pass in the Court.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1371813774634668038

Only four (of the 12) TC judges defend that euthanasia violates the Constitution

The Euthanasia vote in the Court was 7 against to 5 in favour, but of the 7 judges who voted against, just 4 judges clearly say that Euthanasia violates the Constitution. The other 3 judges, defend that it doesn't collide with the Constitution and a new bill can resolve the issue and pass in the Court. This seems in line with the ruling signed by the Judge President of the Court. Parties are already reacting to the Court's decision: PS says they respect the Court's decision and will present changes in the bill. BE and PAN also say they are ready to make changes in the bill and applaud the hints the Court gave in order for the bill to pass the next time. PCP, on the other hand, says it will be very difficult to find a solution. On the right, the PSD says the Court's decision is a "positive and balanced" one, and that they are willing to present changes. IL says the Court's decision shows that there is space in the Constitution to frame Euthanasia. CDS and CHEGA celebrate the Court's "NO" vote and say that the Euthanasia debate is over.

[Mike88]

PSD leader Rui Rio refuses to support a referendum on Euthanasia as the PSD and CDS sign a deal to run in coalitions in the local elections:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1371964495678029825

PSD and CDS signed a coalition agreement.

The PSD and CDS signed, this afternoon, a deal to run in coalitions for the fall local elections. The deal is almost identical to the one signed in 2017 between both parties. Both leaders hailed the coalition agreement saying it will be an important milestone in the confirmation of a mobilizing alternative against the left. The number of coalitions are still to be announced, but it will most likely be well above 100, again a similar number compared with 2017. Both leaders believe the elections will be a turning point for the country and that both parties will weaken the PS in the fall elections. PSD leader Rui Rio acknowledges, however, that it very difficult to overcome the PS in terms of cities, because of the huge gap between PS and PSD. Asked about polling that shows the right bloc at around 40% and still bellow the Left as a whole, both leaders say polling isn't important with Rio adding that if it was for polling, he would never have been elected mayor of Porto.

Asked about the Euthanasia bill rejection by the Court, Rio says he didn't changed his mind and that he's still in favour of the legalization of Euthanasia. He also said he is against calling a referendum on the matter, even though some sectors of the PSD strongly defend that idea.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CM newspaper/CMTV:

Vote share %:

37.6% PS (nc)
23.6% PSD (-1.1)
  9.0% CHEGA (+1.7)
  8.3% BE (+0.1)
  5.5% CDU (-0.3)
  5.3% IL (-0.3)
  2.5% PAN (-0.6)
  2.3% CDS (-0.4)
  0.7% Livre (nc)
  0.9% Others (+0.2)
  4.2% Invalid/Blank (+0.6)

Popularity ratings: (in a scale between 0 and 5)

3.3 António Costa (+0.2)
2.9 Rui Rio (nc)
2.8 Catarina Martins (+0.1)
2.8 João Cotrim Figueiredo (+0.1)
2.7 André Silva (+0.1)
2.6 Jerónimo de Sousa (+0.2)
2.4 Francisco Rodrigues dos Santos (+0.1)
1.9 André Ventura (nc)

Poll conducted between 4 and 10 March 2021. Polled 615 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Good. I had not realized there was a vacancy in the Constitutional Court, by the way.
Are the 'sectors' of PSD calling for a referendum those for or against euthanasia? Is anyone else proposing a referendum?

[Mike88]

Good. I had not realized there was a vacancy in the Constitutional Court, by the way.
Are the 'sectors' of PSD calling for a referendum those for or against euthanasia? Is anyone else proposing a referendum?

They are mostly against Euthanasia and that's why they support the idea of a referendum, because with the current numbers in Parliament, Euthanasia passes. The PSD is literally 50-50 on the issue, although the PSD caucus is much more against euthanasia than the party's voter base, according to polling. Paulo Rangel, PSD MEP, wrote an opinion piece, yesterday, pressing on the idea of a referendum. Many other PSD members also defend a referendum, for actual moral reasons, but others also defend a referendum more in a way to attack Rio's leadership.

[Mike88]

Succession in PAN: Party founders attack the "presumptive" successor of André Silva and demand an end to the "clowning" of the party.

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1371952008027123712

André Silva leaves, but he is not the only one. Founders want "radical change" and an end to "clowning"

PAN is living through a complicated moment with the departure of André Silva as leader. Observador newspaper reports that within that party, many the know Silva very well were surprised by his departure reasons, and some also say that there is an unnecessary great amount of protagonism from Silva's wing of the party. There seems to a be a big regional split in the party and the source of the current internal disputes seems to come from the so-called "Northern wing". PAN was formed in the North of Portugal and many members refuse things like the party's headquarters in Lisbon. Members of this wing, the wing from the party's founders, say the party has become a "joke". The newspaper also reports the the members of the "Northern wing" are trying to retake control of the party by signing new members in order to win a majority in the party's national council. Inês Sousa Real, the presumptive successor of André Silva, is considering a run for the leadership but she is attacked by the "Northern wing" and the wing is considering presenting someone to run against Sousa Real.

[Mike88]

Police raids the offices of the Madeira regional government. Miguel Albuquerque, President of Madeira, is a suspect:

https://twitter.com/ECO_PT/status/1372275327385411597

Regional Government of Madeira targeted for searches.

The Police raided, this afternoon, the offices of the Madeira regional government looking for evidences and documents surrounding the Madeira Free Trade Zone concession to Pestana business group. The President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), is one of the main suspects. The details of the raid are still few but the DA office says that the point of the investigation is to find out if there's crimes of corruption and prevarication in the direct negotiation by the Madeira government for the concession/exploration of the Madeira Free Trade Zone. The regional government has already confirmed the police raid and asked for a very kick investigation on these matters and that the truth be revealed. The statement by the regional government also says that these allegations are being brought up by anonymous reports that constitute low political shots.

[Mike88]

PSD proposes bill that would mandate politicians to declare every single association they belong to:

https://twitter.com/TSFRadio/status/1371849763696615430

PSD wants to compel politicians to declare which associations they belong to. PS rejects

PSD, alongside PAN, is proposing a bill that will mandate all public officials, mainly politicians, of declaring every single association they belong to. The original bill, presented by PAN, wanted politicians to voluntary declare which associations they belong to. The PSD supports the PAN bill, but added that it should be mandatory for all politicians, insted of voluntary. PSD, BE, CDS, PAN support the bill, although BE wants the bill to be more "mature". PS is totally against the bill saying that PSD is trying to persecute people and that the Social Democrats real intention is to find out which politicians are part of the Freemasonry and Opus Dei. The PSD responds to the PS criticisms by saying this will strengthen transparency and added that being a Mason or an Opus Dei member isn't malefic. PCP has some doubts about the bill.

[Mike88]

2021 local elections: Interior minister suggests voting in two separate weekends.

https://twitter.com/tvi24pt/status/1372806525924691973

Government admits local elections on two weekends

The Interior minister, Eduardo Cabrita, suggested that the 2021 local elections could be held in two separate weekends because of the pandemic. Mr Cabrita said that there will not be early voting in these elections and that other voting models can be suggested. Mr Cabrita also said that postponing the elections is a bad idea and that elections should be held in the time stipulated by law, between 22 September and 14 October. Any changes in the election date or law have to pass in Parliament.

However, parties are not very impressed by the idea: PCP says a two weekend election would be very complicated and urges caution for the government; the PSD continues to press on the idea of postponing the elections for November/December and says it's the only solution; BE criticizes the minister for rejecting early voting in these elections.

[Mike88]

2021 local elections: Interior minister suggests voting in two separate weekends.

PM Costa rebuffs his minister and refuses a two weekend election for the fall local election:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1373351273559363587

Costa disagrees with Cabrita and rejects local elections on two different days or weekends

During the PS national committee meeting, PM António Costa said he refuses to call local elections on two different weekends or even for two different days, like what happened in the Netherlands during their general election. The idea was launched by his Interior Minister, Eduardo Cabrita, but parties didn't liked very much the idea preferring a two day election or delaying the elections. During the committee meeting, sources said that Costa said the idea was "dangerous", adding that the Azores and Presidential elections were held in difficult times of the pandemic with relatively safety. Other party members also trashed Mr Cabrira idea. During his public speech in the meeting, Costa also trashed the PSD and CDS coalition agreement for the local elections, saying both parties have no ideas for the country, that their only goal is to weaken the PS and the government and that the last thing the people of Portugal want is parties making "political moves" against the government.

[Mike88]

DA office is investigating a controversial sale of dams by Energies of Portugal (EDP) to French company Engie in which the government is also suspect of collusion:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1373635541699285002

EDP. MP investigates sale of six dams to Engie

This controversy has been in the headlines for some days now. The controversy started when BE revealed that EDP didn't pay taxes for the sale of six dams to the French company Engie and accused the government of collusion with EDP by passing legislation exempting EDP of paying million of euros in taxes. The PSD is also accusing the government of colluding with EDP and of a ruinous deal that cost taxpayers millions of euros. Now, it was revealed that the DA office is already investigating this controversial deal. According to the media, investigators are particularly interested in the government's interference in the deal with the approval of a bill in the 2020 budget that, allegedly, would have exempt EDP of paying taxes. This bill was approved just 2 months before the deal was finalised and ratified in Parliament with the votes of PS and IL and the against votes of the PSD. The government is refusing any wrongdoing and says that EDP wasn't benefited and that every thing was done by the law. The DA office says that crimes of corruption, influence peddling and qualified tax fraud are on the table.

[Mike88]

Update on the 2021 local elections:

- The PSD continues to present candidates for cities across the country. The party has presented more than 200 candidates so far, and today, PSD leader Rui Rio presented more candidates. The main headline was the announcement of the candidates for Porto, Gaia and Sintra. In Porto, Rio choose his former deputy Vladimiro Feliz as candidate; in Gaia, António Oliveira, former coach of Portugal's national football team, is the PSD candidate; and in Sintra, Ricardo Batista Leite, MP and the party's spokesperson on healthcare, was Rio's pick. However, these 3 candidates have basically zero chances of defeating the current incumbents in Porto, Gaia and Sintra;

- In the PS, few candidates are being presented yet, but there are some tensions. In Castelo Branco, the former mayor of the city, Luís Correia, who was forced out of office due to corruption but the charges were dropped, wants to run but the PS doesn't like the idea. He's now thinking of running as an independent, which could split the PS vote in this Socialist bastion. However, the PSD is still also struggling to find a candidate for the city;

- Santana Lopes continues to pop up and this time it seems he's considering an Independent run for Figueira da Foz. Rui Rio has confirmed that Santana will not be a PSD candidate in any city and his run in Figueira da Foz could dash the Social Democrats hopes of retaking that city from the PS;

- In my hometown, Póvoa de Varzim, the PS has presented their candidate: João Trocado. The current PSD mayor, Aires Pereira, is running for reelection and he will probably win easily again as the city has voted for the PSD in every single election since 1987;

- CDU hasn't officially presented any candidate, while BE has presented their candidate for Lisbon city: Beatriz Gomes Dias. BE MP since 2019, Ms Dias was born in Dakar, Senegal, and has lived in Lisbon since she was four years old. The Liberal Initiative (IL) also presented their "plan B", after their original candidate dropped out, and nominated Bruno Horta Soares, one the party's founders, as candidate. The other candidate in the Lisbon race is the Volt Portugal leader, Tiago de Matos Gomes;

- CHEGA is also presenting candidates and their aim is to be the third most voted party, although that's literally impossible. The party has presented a Police union leader for Amadora city, José Dias, and in Porshes parish, Lagoa, Faro, a gypsy candidate that was invited to head the list in that parish, declined the party's invitation;

[Mike88]

2021 local elections: Costa says the elections will be held in September.

https://twitter.com/Renascenca/status/1374457317903671296

António Costa says local elections will be in September

While visiting the construction works of a school in Lisbon, PM António Costa announced to reporters that the local elections will be held in September, but didn't give any more details, adding that there's still enough time to speak. Parliament is set to vote on a PSD proposal to postpone the elections for November/December, but that proposal is dead on arrival as PS, CDU and BE reject the idea. The PM will meet with party leaders, probably in June, to discuss the election date. The election has to be called between 22 September and 14 October, meaning the likeliest dates are 26 September or 10 October. October 3 may be out of the question as it is too close to the October 5 holiday.

[Mike88]

Dam sell controversy: Ana Gomes denounces the government to the EU because of the controversial sell of dams from EDP to French company Engie.

https://twitter.com/AnaMartinsGomes/status/1374358332467781637

In addition to the shameful fiscal tassel and the smell of conflict of interest and #corruption, there is an illegal State aid in the transfer of the concession of the dams authorized by Gov between EDP and ENGIE. Parliament does not seem to see. So I warned Brussels (PE, CE) and not only ...

Former PS MEP and Presidential candidate Ana Gomes, denounced the Portuguese government to European institutions because of the controversial sell of dams from EDP to the French company Engie. Ms Gomes asked the EU institutions to follow and inspect this deal as she accuses the State of giving an illegal aid to EDP and creating a special fiscal exemption for EDP, Energies of Portugal. She also accuses the PM and the minister of the environment of vague and confusing statements that cannot be tolerated by authorities. The ministers of Finance and Environment went yesterday to Parliament to explain the deal at the same time a leaked document from the Portuguese Environment Agency showed the deal was rejected by its technical staff, but ultimately approved by the agency's chairman.

Also, PCP retracts their vote against the so-called "Freemason law" and Parliament postpones the vote of the PSD and PAN proposals:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1374730479631527941

PCP does not close the door to ‘Freemason law’, says it can increase “transparency” and Parliament postpones vote.

The so-called "Freemason law", in which public office holders would be obliged to list the associations they belong to, was expected to fail today, but at the last minute, PCP retracted their position against and is now willing to support the PSD and PAN bills. The party says it will review similar laws in other countries and recognizes it could increase transparency in public life. The PSD bill, that unlike the PAN, makes it mandatory for public office holders to disclose their association affiliations, is in the center of a big debate with Freemason associations accusing the PSD, and Rui Rio, of persecution and that the bill is unconstitutional as it goes against freedom of speech and religious liberty. However, many pundits are applauding the PSD bill as they accuse the Freemasonry of being a place where shady deals and corruption is widespread.

[Mike88]

2021 local elections: The most famous page of the election cycle has returned: "Tesourinhos das Autárquicas 2021" (Treasures of the local elections 2021)

The first ridiculous poster for the elections this year goes to the PSD candidate in Moita:

May the Force be with you in 2021!
In Moita, PSD candidate Luís Nascimento is already giving "slashings" to the PCP.
This promises ...

A new leadership for our land. We deserve more! Luís Nascimento

[Mike88]

Tension between President, PM and Opposition parties due to social aid approved against the government's wishes:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1375222312987934723

United opposition approved increase in social support. Government threatens to sent it to the Courts. Marcelo in a dilemma.

A few weeks ago, all of the opposition parties, PSD, BE, CDU, CDS, PAN, CHEGA and IL, approved a BE bill that would increase social support for independent workers affected by the pandemic and the subsequent social/financial crisis. This proposal was only rejected by the PS and it would create a 300 euros monthly support for independent workers and for parents that have to stay home because of schools closings. The PS is furious with this "rebellious" vote and is asking the President to veto the bill. But, President Marcelo is undecided on the bill. Marcelo has been pressing for more support for people affected by the pandemic, as Portugal is one the EU countries that is least spending in social supports because of the pandemic, and this puts the President in a dilemma as he doesn't want to be seen as uncaring, plus creating a precedent that could make budgets a hell for governments in the future, but also the bill colides with budget law. The government is threatening the President with the Constitutional Court if he signs the bill, while the opposition parties, mainly BE, are pleading to the President to not fall in the lame excuses of the government.

[Mike88]

Eurosondagem poll for Funchal city (104,000 inhabitants) - PS incumbent

Vote share %:

42.0% PSD/CDS (-0.5), 5/6 seats
42.0% PS/BE/PDR/NC (-2.1), 5/6
  4.2% CHEGA (+2.0), 0
  2.5% IL (new)
  2.0% JPP (+0.9), 0
  1.1% CDU (-1.0), 0
  1.0% PTP (nc), 0
  5.2% Others/Invalid (-1.8 ), 0

Poll conducted between 22 and 23 March 2021. Polled 1,520 voters. MoE of 2.50%.

[Mike88]

More 2021 local elections updates:

- PSD and CDS closed the lists for Lisbon city. The PSD will lead, of course, the list for mayor while CDS will have the position of deputy mayor. In the Municipal assembly, the CDS will lead the list, with PSD in second. For the 24 parishes of Lisbon city, the PSD will lead the lists in 15 and CDS in 9. These negotiations were made between the local parties and Carlos Moedas candidacy;

- PSD could face a split in Sintra city. The former PSD candidate in 2017 and Independent in 2013, Marco Almeida, is upset for being put aside by the party and is considering an Independent run. The PSD choosed as candidate MP Ricardo Batista Leite, which has appeared in several TV shows, even in the UK, to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Almeida was expelled from the PSD after his 2013 run but returned to the PSD in 2017. If he runs as an Independent again, he will be expelled again;

- In Torres Vedras, there's also a split, but in the PS. The current PS mayor is running for reelection, but he will face an independent challenge by a PS dissident. The movement "United for Torres Vedras, will be led by Sérgio Galvão, a former PS councillor that held office between 2005 and 2016. In 2017, the PS easily won Torres Vedras by a 51% to 31% margin against the PSD;

- BE announced their candidate for Porto mayor. The party nominated Sérgio Aires as candidate. Mr Aires was the number 3 candidate in the BE list for the 2019 EP elections. Between 2012 and 2018 he was President of the European Anti-Poverty Network in Portugal and has a long track record of fighting against poverty and exclusion;

- PS is also presenting more and more candidates. In Póvoa de Lanhoso, Braga, the PS renominated their 2017 candidate, Francisco Castro. In 2017, the PS lost here by a hair, with a difference of just 1% between PSD and PS. In Chamusca, Santarém, the PS is renominating the incumbent mayor Paulo Queimado. (fun fact: Chamusca means scorch in Portuguese and Queimado means burned, so "Scorch" has a "burned" mayor) xD xD

- In CDS there are tensions because of the many PSD/CDS coalitions: In Oliveira de Azeméis, Aveiro, some CDS parish members are upset with the PSD/CDS coalition and are leaving the party and will run as Independents. And in Ponte de Lima, the biggest CDS bastion in the country, the party is very divided about which candidate to choose and a coalition with the PSD is even considered, even though PSD and CDS in Ponte de Lima have a history of bitter relations;

- In the national stage, Parliament rejected the PSD proposal of postponing the elections for 60 days because of the pandemic. Only the PSD voted in favour of the bill. At the same time, the PS is planning to present a bill to ease early voting, although the Interior minister says it's impossible, and IL presented a bill to eliminate "reflection day", which forbid election campaign/news/propaganda in the 24 hours before election day;

[Mike88]

PM Costa hopes that the President vetoes the social aid approved by Parliament against the government's wishes:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1375574281204101120

António Costa expects Marcelo to veto new social supports.

After the media started reporting, earlier this week, that President Marcelo was very undecided on what to do regarding a 300 monthly support for independent workers approved by Parliament but against the wishes of Costa, the Prime Minister spoke, yesterday, for the first time regarding the issue. Costa said that there's no conflict at all with the President despite the alert given by the government about the proposed social aid being unconstitutional. The PM added that the law is clear and that any additional spending beyond budget limits is illegal, and pressed that there's no conflict but rather an information to the President. Also yesterday, the Minister of the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva, also said the government will use every legal options to stop the social aid, and that they are waiting for the President's decision. Pundits agree that the law is in the government's side, but that this paints the government is a bad manner because of the current social crisis created by the pandemic.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

So... the Parliament passed new social benefits (I assume with the votes of the left-of-centre majority), the Socialist Prime Minister is against that because he thinks that's unconstitutional, but it is not clear whether the Social Democratic President of the Republic will veto the bill?
This sounds pretty peculiar, and I think Costa is the one who stands to lose.

[Mike88]

So... the Parliament passed new social benefits (I assume with the votes of the left-of-centre majority), the Socialist Prime Minister is against that because he thinks that's unconstitutional, but it is not clear whether the Social Democratic President of the Republic will veto the bill?
This sounds pretty peculiar, and I think Costa is the one who stands to lose.

Yes, all parties left to right, expect the PS, approved the proposed new social benefit. Costa, like I said above, has the law on his side but, Portugal is already one of the countries in the EU that is spending less in social supports because of the pandemic, plus President Marcelo has been very critical of the government's lack of planning and social support, so the government's strong opposition to this social aid doesn't look good at all. Marcelo will make a decision between tomorrow and Monday, but pundits believe that he will veto the law. We'll see.

[Mike88]

JUST IN: President Marcelo approves social supports passed against the government's wishes:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1376226480385064972

Marcelo signs urgent social support measures

After the controversy of the last few days, President Marcelo has made up his mind and has signed the social supports approved in Parliament against the wishes of the government. Even though Costa and his government made public pressure for a Presidential veto, Marcelo didn't agree with Costa's arguments. However, the President goes on to say, in a statement sent by the Presidency, that the government has every right to persue the legal path and send the bill to the Constitutional Court. "It's Democracy and the Rule of Law at work." he concluded.

The President also adds that there is a government without a majority and that it's essential that this term lasts until 2023. However, he points that election timings can lead to confrontations between Government and Opposition in matters that can lead to injurious crisis for Portugal. Parties, he continued, need to dialogue and find common ground especially in a time of health/social/economic crisis like we face today, concluding that the role of the President is to highlight these values.

[Mike88]

2021 local elections: José Calixto, the current mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, is the PS candidate for Évora.

Exclusive RC: Local elections 2021- José Calixto is the PS candidate for the Évora Chamber

The PS has nominated José Calixto as candidate for Évora city. Mr Calixto is currently mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, a village just next to Évora, but he has been surrounded in controversy and scandal because of his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Mr Calixto was also the chairman of a nursing home in Reguengos and this nursing home is accused of bad practices and "Human right violations". He also got a Covid-19 jab before any patient of the nursing home got one. The current mayor of Évora, Carlos Pinto de Sá (CDU), hasn't announced yet if he will run for a 3rd term.

A possible pick up for the PS, but after this nomination I believe the PS just gave CDU another term in Évora, and we will see how the PS vs PSD position will be in Évora. The Socialists lost their mind completely.

Also, CDU picks João Ferreira, MEP and former Presidential candidate, as candidate for mayor of Lisbon:

https://twitter.com/Lusa_noticias/status/1376221569236746242

João Ferreira is the candidate of the CDU to Lisbon.

The announcement was expected but CDU confirmed it this afternoon. Current MEP and former Presidential candidate João Ferreira will lead the CDU list for Lisbon mayor. Mr João Ferreira was already the CDU candidate for Lisbon in 2013 and 2017, being elected as councillor both times. He also was the head candidate of CDU in the 2014 and 2019 EP elections and, most recently and like referred above, candidate in the 2021 Presidential elections last January.

The almost final list of candidates for Lisbon mayor and their coalitions is the following:

Fernando Medina (inc) - PS/Livre
Carlos Moedas - PSD/CDS/PPM/MPT/A/RIR
Beatriz Gomes Dias - BE
João Ferreira - CDU
Bruno Horta Soares - IL
Nuno Graciano - CHEGA
To be announced - PAN
Tiago Matos Gomes - Volt Portugal

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

After the controversy of the last few days, President Marcelo has made up his mind and has signed the social supports approved in Parliament against the wishes of the government. Even though Costa and his government made public pressure for a Presidential veto, Marcelo didn't agree with Costa's arguments. However, the President goes on to say, in a statement sent by the Presidency, that the government has every right to persue the legal path and send the bill to the Constitutional Court. "It's Democracy and the Rule of Law at work." he concluded.

The President also adds that there is a government without a majority and that it's essential that this term lasts until 2023. However, he points that election timings can lead to confrontations between Government and Opposition in matters that can lead to injurious crisis for Portugal. Parties, he continued, need to dialogue and find common ground especially in a time of health/social/economic crisis like we face today, concluding that the role of the President is to highlight these values.

As I said before, Costa only stood to lose, and he definitely lost here. It is interesting that Marcelo did the opposite of what pundits thought, I suppose.

And huh, is this a signal that Marcelo has entered "it is my 2nd term, I am free to do whatever pleases me" mode?

[Mike88]

After the controversy of the last few days, President Marcelo has made up his mind and has signed the social supports approved in Parliament against the wishes of the government. Even though Costa and his government made public pressure for a Presidential veto, Marcelo didn't agree with Costa's arguments. However, the President goes on to say, in a statement sent by the Presidency, that the government has every right to persue the legal path and send the bill to the Constitutional Court. "It's Democracy and the Rule of Law at work." he concluded.

The President also adds that there is a government without a majority and that it's essential that this term lasts until 2023. However, he points that election timings can lead to confrontations between Government and Opposition in matters that can lead to injurious crisis for Portugal. Parties, he continued, need to dialogue and find common ground especially in a time of health/social/economic crisis like we face today, concluding that the role of the President is to highlight these values.

As I said before, Costa only stood to lose, and he definitely lost here. It is interesting that Marcelo did the opposite of what pundits thought, I suppose.

And huh, is this a signal that Marcelo has entered "it is my 2nd term, I am free to do whatever pleases me" mode?

Yep, it doesn't look good a PM fighting against social supports when unemployment is rising and people/families in dire conditions are growing because of the pandemic and it seems that he actually though the President would veto it. Speaking to reporters today, Costa said the President's decision was "very creative" and "very innovative", adding that the government is analysing the President's decision and will decide then what to do. Costa also said that there is no time for political crisis and that his working to make the government last until 2023.

About, what does this means for Marcelo's 2nd term, well, Marcelo, like I said above, was undecided because either way he could be badly interpreted: he could veto it but then he would be seen as a hypocrite as he has been criticizing the lack of social supports for people affected by the pandemic; or signed it and face a possible clash with the government who could respond with the Courts. He decided to sign the social supports but with a very strong message to both the Government and the Opposition: for the Opposition was to warn that this cannot become a regular thing and dialogue with the government is necessary; for the Government, he warned that they don't have a majority, they need to talk with other parties and search common ground, one of the main criticisms lately, by pundits and the Opposition, of Costa and his ministers has been that they have become arrogant and very sensitive to attacks.

I believe Marcelo made a clear warning to Costa by saying that if he continues the current path, he will not last until 2023 and that Marcelo's goal is stability and a government that last until the end of the current Parliament.