🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[Mike88]

Tomorrow, a motion of no confidence proposed by CHEGA will be voted, and rejected.

Motion of no confidence: CHEGA's motion is rejected, as expected, but with strong accusation between PS and CHEGA, with the PSD in the middle.

https://twitter.com/JornalNoticias/status/1544742753568837632

Failed motion of censure by Chega against the Government

With no big surprises, CHEGA's motion of no confidence against the PS majority government was widely rejected, only CHEGA voted in favour. CHEGA accused Costa of failing to govern the country and for creating several crisis, from the NHS to the new airport. He also trashed PNS for his role in the ongoing "crisis" within the government, saying he no longer exists as a minister. In a curious note, Costa and PNS entered the Chamber almost together, while Costa sat down in the center of the Chamber, PNS went to the extreme left of the Chamber. In the end of the debate, the two men left through different doors. Ventura also trashed PSD and IL for not having the courage to fight against the left. In his response, Costa accused Ventura of proposing a motion just for opportunism and labeled it as a motion for CHEGA to compete with the other rightwing parties. Costa, once again, acknowledged that PNS's error was a serious one, but that is now resolved, adding that CHEGA only likes to talk and talk and propose nothing. Costa then started to make a series of announcements like new NHS laws and listed the measures the government is pursuing to fight inflation.

The PS said that this motion is a motion about the state of the opposition, not the government, and attacked the PSD for abstaining. The PSD, which remained quite low profile during the whole debate, said that they would not enter in the "Parliamentary bullfight" that CHEGA was proposing, and said that if the government indeed needs to be censored, as too needs CHEGA for his actions. IL followed a similar line to the PSD one and added that if Costa is going to thank Ventura for the "boost" CHEGA just gave to the government. PCP also trashed CHEGA's motion, saying it doesn't resolve any issue, while BE accused CHEGA of "little games" just to lead the opposition. PAN called the motion as totally ineffective, while Livre mocked Ventura for just wanting to "jam his neighbors".

In the end, these were the final results:

133 Against (PS, PCP, BE, PAN, Livre)
  12 In favour (CHEGA)
  80 Abstention (PSD, IL)

[Mike88]

While the media is trashing Ventura for basically helping the PS with his failed motion of no confidence, he's also being ridicularized because a report about pride month and an "error" he made on twitter:

CHEGA forced to correct Ventura's error on social media, as he posted the hastag #pride in a tweet:

CHEGA was, yesterday, forced to alert their supporters that Ventura had posted the hastag #pride and that doesn't mean that he supports the LGTBI cause, adding that "unfortunately" the word pride is currently linked to the cause. The party asked for local parties to change the hastag into "prideinbeingchega.

It's always funny when the "real" André Ventura comes along now and then.

[Mike88]

Constitutional Court basically "kills" the government's emergency health bill as it rules that confinements without a State of Emergency are illegal:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1547122600022839296

“Deprivation of total liberty.” Constitutional ruling compares confinement to house arrest

The government's draft bill to deal with pandemics and the implementation of measures, like lockdowns, just received a death blow by the Constitutional Court as it ruled that confinements that are imposed outside a State of Emergency are illegal and represent a "deprivation of total liberty", and even compares it with house arrest. This ruling was a response to a complaint sent by a citizen who was forced to be confined for 14 days, during a time when there was no State of Emergency. President Marcelo already stated that he will send any health emergency bill to the Court, but this ruling basically "kills" that draft bill.

Other stories are dominating headlines:

- The Novo Banco affair is again in the news as a report from the Court of Auditors trashes the Government, the Bank of Portugal and Novo Banco itself for the way the privatization of the bank was done. According to the Court, no one ensure the protection of taxpayers money, adding that the bank sold assets well bellow their value, just for them to be sold again, by their new owners, by a price which was double or triple. The Court also accuses the Government and the Bank of Portugal for not fiscalizing the bank and for not seeing strong conflicts of interests in the management of the bank. The Court says that Novo Banco could still need 1.6 billion euros from the government and other banks;

- Regarding parties, the PSD is set to elect a new caucus leader. The new leader, and sole candidate, will be Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, who will succeeded Paulo Mota Pinto after he was dismissed by Montenegro. Mr Sarmento was a close ally to Rui Rio and his caucus team has a mix of Rio and Montenegro supporters. The BE could face turbulence today as Parliament is set to vote on a ruling that says that MP Mariana Mortágua did broke Parliamentary rules by receiving money as a TV pundit while she was also receiving a subsidy from being exclusively a MP. The penalty could be loss of seat;

[Mike88]

- Regarding parties, the PSD is set to elect a new caucus leader. The new leader, and sole candidate, will be Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, who will succeeded Paulo Mota Pinto after he was dismissed by Montenegro. Mr Sarmento was a close ally to Rui Rio and his caucus team has a mix of Rio and Montenegro supporters.

Blow for Montenegro as his pick for caucus leader gets a result below 60%:

Luís Montenegro, new PSD leader, suffered a small blow in the PSD caucus ballot. His candidate, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, only got 46 votes out of 76 MPs, 59.7%, a result well bellow Paulo Mota Pinto who got 92% of the PSD caucus just 3 months ago. Rui Rio was the only MP who didn't show up to vote. The results are the following:

59.7% Joaquim Miranda Sarmento (46 votes)
26.0% Blank (20)
13.0% Invalid (10)
  1.3% Abstention (1)

Miranda Sarmento downplayed the weak result saying he will not make comparisons with previous ballots and that he's more worried about what colleagues think of him "in the end rather than in the beginning". Nonetheless, the results seems to suggest that several PSD MPs aren't sure about Montenegro's choice, and many also were unhappy with the forced removal of Paulo Mota Pinto as caucus leader by Montenegro, even though Montenegro tried to make a "unity team" for the caucus leadership.

The BE could face turbulence today as Parliament is set to vote on a ruling that says that MP Mariana Mortágua did broke Parliamentary rules by receiving money as a TV pundit while she was also receiving a subsidy from being exclusively a MP. The penalty could be loss of seat;

Regarding the Mariana Mortágua case, a weird turn of events is happening. Parliament has postponed the vote sine die, after MPs were surprised by the ruling. BE is accusing the rightwing, and especially the PSD, of a personal attack against Ms Mortágua. This the second ruling on the Mortágua case. The first cleared Mortágua of any wrongdoing, but after the DA office opened an investigation, Parliament asked for a new ruling that now says that Mortágua indeed broke the rules. A story to follow.

[Mike88]

Although there are still 3.5 years to go, Intercampus released a poll on possible scenarios for the 2026 Presidential election:

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper on the 2026 Presidential election:

Scenario 1:

31.7% Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo
10.9% Paulo Portas
10.4% Marques Mendes
  7.8% Mariana Mortágua
  7.8% Speaker Augusto Santos Silva
  6.1% André Ventura
  3.0% João Ferreira
22.3% Others/Undecided

Scenario 2:

18.3% Paulo Portas
17.4% Marques Mendes
12.7% Mariana Mortágua
12.2% Speaker Augusto Santos Silva
  4.5% João Ferreira
34.9% Others/Undecided

Scenario 3:

31.1% PM António Costa
16.2% Marques Mendes
13.6% Paulo Portas
  7.8% Mariana Mortágua
  4.0% João Ferreira
27.4% Others/Undecided

Scenario 4:

23.1% Pedro Passos Coelho
16.5% Marques Mendes
12.9% Mariana Mortágua
12.4% Speaker Augusto Santos Silva
  4.5% João Ferreira
30.6% Others/Undecided

Poll conducted between 6 and 11 July 2022. Polled 605 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

CDS holds party congress to change internal rules, but Melo is facing criticisms:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1548210994253467649

Nuno Melo wants to avoid “entrenchment” in structures of “ideological or doctrinal purification”. But he will face criticism

CDS is holding this Saturday a party congress to change internal rules. Party leader Nuno Melo wants to end "tendencies", meaning wings of the party with different opinions and ideologies, and label the party with a sole ideology and position. Other changes will also be voted. However, several party members are criticizing Melo's proposals accusing him of "purges" and that even if "tendencies" are extinguished, they will continue regardless. Around 700 delegates will vote in the changes. The party continues to face deep difficulties politically and financially since losing all their seats in the 30 January general elections. Party members are not paying their membership fees which is creating an even worse financial situation, and former party leaders Paulo Portas and Assunção Cristas had to come out publicly and appeal members to pay their fees.

Recent polling puts CDS somewhere between 2-3%, which would might be enough to win a seat back, but the situation continues very complicated. Plus, in Madeira and Azores, the party is governing in coalitions with the PSD and is expected to run in common lists with the PSD in the next regional elections. Despite being a safe bet as the party will win seats regardless, some worry that the party may also be "absorbed" by the PSD in these regional branches.

Update: 609 delegates (94.1%) voted in favour of the changes. 18 voted against (2.8%) and 20 abstained (3.1%).

[Mike88]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio:

Vote share %:

35.8% PS (-4.9)
30.1% PSD (+4.9)
10.2% CHEGA (+2.4)
  6.1% IL (-1.8 )
  5.6% BE (+1.6)
  3.3% CDU (-0.8 )
  2.0% Livre (+0.5)
  1.9% PAN (+0.4)
  1.4% CDS (-0.8 )
  3.6% Others/Invalid (-1.5)

Preferred PM:

45% António Costa
17% Luís Montenegro
28% Neither
  2% Both
  8% Undecided

Popularity ratings: (difference between Approve and Disapprove)

João Cotrim Figueiredo +4.0
Luís Montenegro -1.0
Rui Tavares -3.0
António Costa -8.0
Inês Sousa Real -14.0
Nuno Melo -20.0
Catarina Martins -21.0
André Ventura -28.0
Jerónimo de Sousa -47.0

Government approval:

43% Disapprove (+16)
35% Approve (-10)
17% Neither approve or disapprove (-4)
  5% Undecided (-2)

President Marcelo approval:

56% Approve (-5)
22% Disapprove (+7)
17% Neither approve or disapprove (-4)
  5% Undecided (+2)

Poll conducted between 5 and 10 July 2022. Polled 810 voters. MoE of 3.44%.

[Mike88]

Political update:

The last week was dominated by the wildfires that are occurring all across mainland Portugal. So far, almost 30,000 acres of land have burn in the last few days, with almost 200 people injured, one death and several villages, during the course of week, having to be evacuated. PM Costa has been in the forefront of the Government's campaign effort to fight and prevent wildfires and has been advising, and warning, people to be carefull and to being responsible for their actions:

https://twitter.com/Lusa_noticias/status/1546429978211926016

Costa calls for the responsibility of each one because there is only fire with “human hand”

Pundits point to a change of strategy in Costa's actions by centralizing all the decision making in himself and for avoiding going to the ground, in order to prevent past mistakes. However, opposition parties and some media outlets are criticizing the PM's statements on the "accountability of people" regarding wildfires as a sign that Costa just wants to remove any responsibility from himself and his government, as there are also criticisms that the Government hasn't invested in equipments for firefighters. At the same time, PSD leader Luís Montenegro trashed Costa's policies on wildfires accusing the PM of just announcing things everyday and of not governing to prevent or avoid problems, adding that Costa failed to deliver his forest reform, proposed after the deathly 2017 wildfires:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1548763501681934343

Luís Montenegro criticizes António Costa and says forest reform failed. PSD president still criticizes the absence of measures to fight inflation.

Also regarding the wildfires, André Ventura is at "war" with Speaker Augusto Santos Silva after the Speaker rejected to schedule two debates regarding the wildfires, at the request of CHEGA, before the State of the Nation debate on July 20th. Santos Silva is open to schedule a debate on the matter on 21 July, but Ventura is furious and is making a "tantrum" saying he wants to censure the Speaker, accusing him of being partial against CHEGA and of not being exempt.

[Mike88]

UCP–CESOP poll for RTP and Público newspaper:

Vote share %: (compared with the January 2022 election results)

38% PS (-3)
30% PSD (+1)
  9% CHEGA (+2)
  6% IL (+1)
  5% BE (+1)
  5% CDU (+1)
  2% Livre (+1)
  1% PAN (-1)
  1% CDS (-1)
  3% Others/Invalid (-2)

Poll conducted between 11 and 15 July 2022. Polled 885 voters. MoE of 3.30%.

[Mike88]

More polling:

UCP–CESOP poll for RTP and Público newspaper on the State of the Nation: (compared with the July 2021 poll)

Q1: In general, the country is worse, better or the same compared with last year?

63% Worse (+5)
24% The same (-4)
11% Better (-1)
  2% Undecided (nc)

Q2: Which are the main problems of the country?

20% Inflation/Cost of living
12% Healthcare
  8% The government
  4% The war
  4% Economy
  4% Corruption
  4% Wildfires
  2% Taxes
  2% International situation
  2% Politics
38% Other/Undecided

Q3: How do you the rate the government's actions?

50% Average (-2)
37% Bad/Very Bad (+8)
10% Good/Very good (-6)
  3% Undecided (nc)

Q4: After the controversy with the airport, has Pedro Nuno Santos conditions to remain in cabinet?

51% No
30% Yes
19% Undecided

Poll conducted between 11 and 15 July 2022. Polled 885 voters. MoE of 3.30%.

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper:

Vote share %:

35.1% PS (+0.8 )
19.8% PSD (-1.9)
  8.5% IL (+1.6)
  8.3% CHEGA (+0.1)
  5.4% BE (+0.2)
  2.8% CDU (-0.4)
  2.2% PAN (-0.5)
  2.0% CDS (-0.7)
  1.9% Livre (+0.7)
  2.4% Others/Invalid (+0.1)
11.8% Undecided (+0.2)

Popularity ratings: (between 1 and 5)

3.0 António Costa (-0.1)
2.9 João Cotrim Figueiredo (nc)
2.8 Luís Montenegro (nc)
2.7 Rui Tavares (-0.1)
2.6 Inês Sousa Real (nc)
2.6 Catarina Martins (nc)
2.5 Nuno Melo (-0.1)
2.1 André Ventura (nc)
1.9 Jerónimo de Sousa (-0.1)

Poll conducted between 6 and 11 July 2022. Polled 605 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

State of the Nation debate: Costa promisses relief package for families and businesses, while the new PSD caucus leader performance ended in disappointment:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1549838084560355328

Costa announces measures for September (Which ones? No one knows)

The State of the Nation debate, held this afternoon, showed Costa acknowledging that the country is in a worse shape now and that inflation is here to stay for some time. In previous debates, the PM affirmed that inflation was just "temporary", but now the tone has changed. Because of raising inflation, Costa announced a package of policies for families and businesses to be given in September. What policies? No one knows and because nonen of the opposition parties pressed the PM on the matter, only in September will we know. The new PSD caucus leader, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, is considered to have failed in putting Costa "on defense" and many actually said the Costa "roasted" the PSD caucus leader. The PSD attacked the government for not using the budget surplus to fight against the rising cost of living, something that Costa rejected by saying that they are using the surplus. Other parties also accused the government of wanting to make a "sparkle" with the 2022 deficit numbers. Catarina Martins, BE leader, accused Costa of ignoring MPs questions and that it's now clear the tone of the PS majority government. IL accused the government of having a legacy of "fear and anxiety" and accusing Costa of not knowing the real country. Costa replied that he knows the "real country" as he goes regularly to the supermarket. CHEGA trashed the government's energy policies, especially on fuel, and demanded tax cuts. PCP accused the government of being in the hands of special interests and of ignoring people's needs.

After the debate, PSD leader Luís Montenegro spoke to reporters accusing Costa of "political folklore" and responded to Costa attack that Montenegro's election to the PSD leadership, is a return of the Passos Coelho era. Montenegro said he's proud to have worked with Passos Coelho and asked Costa, in return, if he is proud of his work with José Sócrates while minister. Reactions from pundits is that the government is totally worn out, but completely dependent on António Costa's performances, almost suggesting that the government is basically a one man show.

[Mike88]

A bit of an old poll, the field work ended 3 weeks ago, but only now it was revealed:

Pitagórica poll for TVI/CNN Portugal:

Vote share %:

38.9% PS (-2.6)
24.9% PSD (+3.3)
  8.6% IL (-1.4)
  8.3% CHEGA (+2.6)
  5.3% BE (+0.2)
  3.9% CDU (-0.5)
  1.8% CDS (-0.2)
  1.8% Livre (-0.6)
  1.2% PAN (-0.2)
  5.3% Others/Invalid (-0.7)

Government approval ratings:

47% Average (+6)
34% Bad/Very bad (+7)
18% Good/Very good (-10)
  1% Undecided (-3)

Prime Minister António Costa's approval rating:

47% Approve (-7)
46% Disapprove (+8)
  7% Undecided (-1)

Poll conducted between 21 June and 4 July 2022. Polled 828 voters. MoE of 3.48%.

[Mike88]

Weird scenes this afternoon in Parliament: CHEGA's caucus leaves the chamber as the Speaker was giving a rebuke to CHEGA regarding a government proposed bill.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1550161547556786176

After an exchange between Ventura and Santos Silva, the MPs of Chega left the hemicycle during an intervention by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, when changes to the legal regime for the entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners were discussed.

This afternoon, a bill to facilitate the entry of foreigners into Portugal, for labour issues, created another episode in the ongoing feud between CHEGA and Speaker Santos Silva. Ventura was criticizing the bill as it was giving more attention to foreigners rather than to the worries of the Portuguese people and that the Government just wants people to come to Portugal at any cost. Ventura's remarks created a lot of noise from the PS caucus and Speaker Santos Silva rebuked Ventura for his tone and that many foreigners give their contribute to Portugal. Ventura responded by saying that Santos Silva is partial and that he should avoid making comments, adding that Santos Silva represents the PS in his post. As Santos Silva was responding, again, to Ventura, CHEGA MPs stood up and, one by one, left the floor of Parliament, while the Speaker was speaking with the boos from PS MPs in the background.

Outside the chamber, Ventura told reporters that Santos Silva needs to be censored and that they will propose a vote next September.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Costa unclear and apparently corrupted by power, the PSD ineffective in its response, CHEGA covering itself in ridicule... yes, I think the script for this Portuguese legislature is pretty clear now.

[Mike88]

Costa unclear and apparently corrupted by power, the PSD ineffective in its response, CHEGA covering itself in ridicule... yes, I think the script for this Portuguese legislature is pretty clear now.

I think that's a spot on assessment of Portugal's current situation. Wouldn't have put it better.

[Mike88]

Some updates:

Week horribilis of Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas: From garbage crisis to divisions within the PSD.

https://twitter.com/revistaSABADO/status/1552657729566621701

Portugal - The horrible weeks of Carlos Moedas

Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas has had a terrible couple of days. The first crisis was the PSD, his own party, voting against a proposal regarding construction for the 2023 World Youth Day of the Catholic Church. No one understood the local PSD position, not even Moedas, and after a few days where the local party chairman, Luís Newton, was trashed by party members in townhall meetings, the party made a total, and humiliating, U-turn and voted in favour of Moedas proposal. Then the garbage crisis, as Lisbon is facing a big surge in garbage on the streets as garbage collection is delayed due to the shortage of staff. However, this is an inheritance of Costa's 2014 decentralization of garbage collection, that gave parishes more power but little resources and a blame game between parishes and city hall. Moedas has promissed to hire 190 workers by September to clean up the city, and is meeting with unions regarding wages. Other tense moments were Moedas initial "ok" to a statue of the late and controversial former PM Vasco Gonçalves, which infuriated the rightwing, and his departure during a city hall meeting, in which PCP accused Moedas of running away from political discussion.

Crisis in the NHS emergency rooms continues as a second woman loses her baby as an Emergency room was closed:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1552735674679320589

Investigation into the death of a baby with emergency room closed in Abrantes

Emergency rooms in the NHS continue to suffer shortages of staff, and in some specialties like, mainly, Obstetrics, the situation is very dire with services closed for days or long hours during the day. The controversy started more than a month ago when a pregnant woman, in Leiria district, lost her baby because the hospital she was in didn't had enough staff. Now, another woman has lost her baby as the hospital she went to, Abrantes, had Obstetrics services closed and the woman had to drive to the district capital, Santarém, but it was too late. An investigation is already open but criticisms to the government's handling continue. The government and health unions continue to discuss ways to increase wages and stabilize staff in the NHS, and although there are some positive signs, others are becoming a disappointment: The government approved a bill that would allow hospitals to have more power to increase spending on wages, but hospital administrations were shocked when they read the bill as no wage increases are possible as the government forced a brake norm that spending cannot surpass the 2019 numbers. Facing pressure, the government is open to making a U-turn if the bill doesn't work.

[Mike88]

Energy prices increases are becoming a major issue after Endesa CEO warned that electricity costs could rise 40% after August. The government didn't like his tone and PM Costa signed a decree in which Endesa contracts with the State will be supervised, creating more controversy:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1554377862219763713

António Costa orders Endesa's contracts with public services to be monitored. Prime Minister justifies the decision with the “duty of the State to protect the interest of taxpayers in the management of public funds”

After a weekend which was dominated by the statements of Endesa, a Spanish energy company, Portuguese CEO, in which he warned that electricity prices would rise 40% after August because of the recent Iberian energy pact, a flurry of reactions and decisions are creating controversy. The government initially rejected the claims and accused the CEO of "alarmism", while opposition parties demanded explanations from the government and guarantees that prices would not rise. And, this morning, PM Costa issued a decree in which all State contracts with Endesa will be supervised and every single payment has to pass by the desk of the Energy secretary. In the decree, Costa says that the goal is to protect consumers and taxpayers. Endesa has around 100 million euros contracts with the State.

Pundits are surprised by Costa's decree and Opposition parties, PSD and IL so far, are trashing the government. PSD is accusing the government of abuse of power, pressing that it has to be the market regulators to react, not the government and has asked the regulator to analyse the situation. IL has the same accusation and labels the decree as "socialist arrogance". BE and PCP applaud the PM's decision, while PAN calls the decree "surreal", and CHEGA demands that Endesa, the energy regulator and the energy secretary give explanations to MPs in Parliament.

Endesa has already retracted and said they will not increase prices, the same was said from other companies like EDP, but the confusion is installed.

[Mike88]

Controversy breaks as Finance Minister Fernando Medina hires a former TV director as his advisor for public policies:

https://twitter.com/TSFRadio/status/1556751999760158720

With a minister's salary. Sérgio Figueiredo hired by Medina to evaluate public policies

The report that the Finance minister Fernando Medina hired Sérgio Figueiredo, TVI's former director of information, is creating criticisms for the way he was hired, his wage and his connections with Medina and the PS. Mr Figueiredo was TVI director of information during the Banif fallout, in which he was accused of propting the fall of the bank by airing a TV report damaging to the bank and that he was tipped by the government about the imminent colapse of the bank, back in early 2016. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in a Parliamentary committee, however. He also hired Medina as a TV pundit while he was on TVI, but left the TV station in 2020. He is now hired by the finance minister with a wage close to the minister's, around 4,700 euros, and will surveil public policies for the minister.

However, the media and opposition parties are trashing Medina and the government for the hiring. PSD, IL, CHEGA and BE all agree that this hiring damages "press credibility" and that this is a clear "favor exchange" between both men. International Transparency, an INGO, says it is "outraged" by this situation. The media, in op-eds, are also trashing the government and point that Costa is just obsessed with his government image rather the content, as he's hiring more and more spin doctors, and that he's losing credibility because of this.

[Mike88]

Parish in Viana do Castelo set to vote in a referendum in order to split the parish in two next Monday, 15 August:

The parish of Barroselas e Carvoeiro, Viana do Castelo municipality, is set to vote on the first referendum in order to split two parishes, united after the 2012 parish reform. A recent change in this reform, allowed parishes to go back to their old maps if that was their decision. Barroselas e Carvoeiro will, therefore, decide next Monday, 15 August, if they want to return to the old map or remain united. 4,691 voters are registered to cast a ballot, but there are fears that turnout could be low as the vote is being held in the middle of August.

In order to be valid, the referendum needs to have a 50% turnout quorum.

[Mike88]

Controversy breaks as Finance Minister Fernando Medina hires a former TV director as his advisor for public policies:

More updates in this controversy:

- The media is reporting more details of this hiring: Figueiredo's salary will actually be higher than Medina's, 5,800 per month, contradicting the initial reports that he would earn around 4,700 euros, adding also that his contract isn't exclusive, meaning he can work outside from the government at the same time he's advising Medina;

- It's also being reported that the job Figueiredo is being given, overlook public policies, is already taken by several government departments, one even with a 65 people staff called PlanAPP, but the government is denying, of course, any overlap between both cases;

- The media is also reporting that Medina, when he was Mayor of Lisbon (2015-21), hired Sérgio Figueiredo and his girlfriend to do a Christmas publicity campaign in 2020, in which Figueiredo was paid 30,000 euros for that campaign;

If Medina was planning to "revamp" his image, well done, his image is now even more in the crapper.
(P.S.: Pedro Nuno Santos is probably laughing at all of this)

[crals]

I'm amazed at how fast this government is crashing and burning. The absolute majority did them no good

[Mike88]

I'm amazed at how fast this government is crashing and burning. The absolute majority did them no good

What I find interesting is that the current government is even more centered in Costa than his previous one. Remove Costa from the equation and everything falls apart in the PS and in the government, and that's the problem with this government. There is no other major figure, politically, to controle things.

This will create a big problem for the PS in the future. Costa's succession was already poised to be a trainwreck, but now with PNS politically wounded, but not dead, and Medina just doing everything in his power to be seen as a joke, it will be another level of trainwreck.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper:

Vote share %:

33.1% PS (-2.0)
22.8% PSD (+3.0)
  8.4% CHEGA (+0.1)
  7.1% IL (-1.4)
  5.0% BE (-0.4)
  2.2% CDU (-0.6)
  1.9% Livre (nc)
  1.3% PAN (-0.9)
  0.7% CDS (-1.3)
  3.4% Others/Invalid (+1.0)
14.0% Undecided (+2.2)

Popularity ratings: (between 1 and 5)

2.9 António Costa (-0.1)
2.8 João Cotrim Figueiredo (-0.1)
2.8 Luís Montenegro (nc)
2.6 Rui Tavares (-0.1)
2.5 Catarina Martins (-0.1)
2.4 Inês Sousa Real (-0.2)
2.4 Nuno Melo (-0.1)
2.1 André Ventura (nc)
1.9 Jerónimo de Sousa (nc)

Poll conducted between 3 and 10 August 2022. Polled 605 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[MaxQue]

Any reason why Portugal is one of the few countries where Parliament hasn't voted on Sweden and Findland joining NATO?

[Mike88]

Any reason why Portugal is one of the few countries where Parliament hasn't voted on Sweden and Findland joining NATO?

Summer holidays, of course. The government's proposal entered in Parliament after the last session before the summer break, so it can only be voted in September when Parliament opens again.