🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[Mike88]

Also, today, it's expected the speech of PCP leader Jerónimo de Sousa in the Avante festival. This year, the festival was surrounded in controversy because of the Communist's pro-Russia position and for several reactions in favour and against this year's festival.

PCP's Avante Festival: Jerónimo de Sousa says that the Ukranian-Russian war is to blame for the rising prices and accuses the PS majority government of being accomplice in the war.

https://twitter.com/Lusa_noticias/status/1566484993697878022

Jerónimo accuses Portuguese government of being an accomplice in the continuation of the war in Ukraine

Jerónimo de Sousa's final speech in the Communist's annual Avante Festival was marked by the ongoing rise in the cost of living and in the party's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Jerónimo said that PCP is on the side of "peace" and "freedom" and accuses the US, NATO, EU and the Portuguese government of imposing sanctions on Russia that are prolonging the war and hurting families and workers. He also condemned the ongoing "siege" on China and Russia. Jerónimo de Sousa went on to attack the PS government accusing them of governing "to the right" adding that Costa's government is closing their eyes on the "exploration of the conditions of living of the people by the great economic powers". He also accused the government of persuing weak policies and of selling a theory that inflation would be temporary. He ended his speech by thanking the artists and singers who attended the Festival, saying that despite the "threats, defamation and blackmails", the festival was a success.

[Mike88]

Costa announces anti-inflation package:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1566897792865509378

"Families First". Government measures to support families

In a press conference in Ajuda Royal Palace, PM Costa announced the very awaited measures to fight the rising cost of living. The package of measures, called "Families First", was approved in a extraordinary cabinet meeting, also in Ajuda Palace, and signed almost immediately by President Marcelo. The package of measures has 8 main policies:

- Bonus of 125 euros for each citizen who earns until 2,700 euros per month, paid only in October;
- 50 euros bonus for children or young people, until 24 years old, that families are in charge of, also paid only in October;
- VAT cut in electricity from 13% to 6% until December 2023;
- On gas, the government gives the option for consumers to return to the regulated market;
- On fuel, the ongoing discounts on prices, cut in fuel taxes and carbon tax suspension, will last until December 2021;
- A maximum limit of rent increases of 2%;
- Public transportation passes prices will freeze in 2023;
- Pensioners will be given a bonus of 50% in October and increases between 3.53% and 4.43% in 2023;

The overall cost of this package is 2.4 billion euros and Costa says that this package also helps middle class families and that they were taken now because there was now enough data to analyse the economic impacts of inflation.

In reaction, parties, from left to right, accuse the government of a late response and of, also, a rather weak one. PSD accuses the government of not reducing VAT of gas and fuel and pressed that the measures were too little too late. CHEGA accuses the government of giving "crumbs" and the State continues to receive billions in taxes due to inflation. IL, like the PSD, trashed the government for not reducing taxes, while PCP said that government's pensioners policies are a "scam". BE reacted by accusing the plan of being "short" and that the government used tricks to misled people.

Pundits on the media pointed that the Costa was very good in communicating but that he may be misleading people, especially in terms of pensions. The law says that pension increases have to be in line with inflation, which means that pension increases should be around 7% in 2023, but pundits and economists argue that Costa is using a "financial trick" to save money for future budgets and that this could hurt pensioners pockets during 2023. On the package itself, some pundits say it was a disappointment, while others point the strong amount of money spent.

Update: President Marcelo also commented on the package, of course he did , and said that the package itself lacks ambition but it's at least balanced.

[Mike88]

Finance minister Fernando Medina explains anti-inflation package, but backlash against some measures is starting:

https://twitter.com/ECO_PT/status/1567115648664231936

Checks of 125 and 50 euros are exempt from IRS. “Half pension” will be taxed

After the PM's announcement, yesterday evening, of the anti-inflation package, 4 ministers, Finance, Labour, Infrastructures and Environment, explained in detail the measures in the package. Finance Minister Medina labeled the supports as "effective, comprehensive, timely and prudent" adding that will not damage deficit or debt projections for the next year. Medina then explained that pensioners will be taxed on the 50% bonus given in October, while the checks of 125 and 50 euros for citizens who earn up to 2,700 euros and that young people dependent will be tax free. Pensioners, with low pensions, will also not have any extra rise in their pensions in 2023, unlike previous years. The VAT cut of electricity, from 13% to 6%, was also explained and it will not benefit everyone as only the lowest consumption, the first 100 kWh, will be taxed at 6%. The rest of electricity consumption will remain taxed at 23% VAT.

However, backlash against some measures, especially regarding pensions and VAT, is starting. Pensioners associations are accusing the Government of duping pensioners and demand that the government obeys the current law that indexes inflation with pension increases. Some pundits are also accusing Costa of committing a big political mistake on changing the rules on pensions at this time.

[Estrella]

I know I don't comment much, but this thread is great

I realize this is a very complicated question, but why was the First Republic, er, like that? To me, the whole period seems so weird and contradictory: the aims of the republic were borderline utopian but in a very Belle Époque way rather than anything socialist, the dominant forces seemed to be moderate liberals and not some rabble-rousers but the whole thing immediately devolved into extremism, elections were being held all the time yet hardly anyone voted, all parties seemingly stood for the same things but PMs changed almost monthly... If you could explain why the whole thing was so unstable and what the constand feuds were about, I'd very interested.

[Mike88]

I know I don't comment much, but this thread is great

I realize this is a very complicated question, but why was the First Republic, er, like that? To me, the whole period seems so weird and contradictory: the aims of the republic were borderline utopian but in a very Belle Époque way rather than anything socialist, the dominant forces seemed to be moderate liberals and not some rabble-rousers but the whole thing immediately devolved into extremism, elections were being held all the time yet hardly anyone voted, all parties seemingly stood for the same things but PMs changed almost monthly... If you could explain why the whole thing was so unstable and what the constand feuds were about, I'd very interested.

Thanks for the feedback

Well, the only thing that united all of the people who wanted to get rid of the Monarchy, was just that, getting rid of the Monarchy. The rest was completely different. That's why that after the Republic was installed, the Republican Party, then renamed as Democratic Party (PD), suffered several splits from moderates, conservatives, others, who didn't liked the anti-Catholic approach, Afonso Costa, f.e. the historical leader of the PD, closed down churches and convents and in a deeply Catholic country like Portugal was, you can imagine how this went down, or the kind of government and policies as some wanted a more presidential style, others more conservative or even dictatorship. Adding to this, there was deep power struggles between several personalities that ended in crisis, splits, assassinations, coups, etc.

The last few decades of the Constitutional Monarchy were quite chaotic also, not as much as the 1st Republic, but there were deep humiliations like the "Pink Map" crisis, several bankruptcies, corruption and deep distrust of the system. Many thought that a new regime would solve the country's problems, but it only became worse. By a certain point, mid 1920's, many basically gave up in supporting the Republic and the dictatorship, that led to Salazar, started.

[Mike88]

Pensions: Government is indeed preparing changes in the way pensions are calculated.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1567397415556190209

The Government ensures that retirees will receive increases in line with those required by law, but from 2024 onwards the rules will change. It will be the end of a 2008 formula. Eleven questions and answers

It has become the big talking point after Monday's measures announcement, the possible cuts in pensions increases after 2023 and, now, according to the media, it's basically a forgone conclusion changes in the way pensions are calculated. The reason is the high inflation as the current formula indexes pension increases with inflation, which means 7-8% pension increases in 2023 and beyond. The current formula was designed by a PS minister in 2008. Newspapers are doing the math and they point that the changes to calculate pensions could cut a lot of money for retirees: a 509 euros pension, for example, would be cut by 254 euros, yearly, if the changes go ahead.

In the PS, many are nervous about this change and the timing of it. Off the record, many PS members accuse the government of not having the courage to say that 7-8% pension increases are impossible and that this "trick" was unnecessary and is haunting the anti-inflation package.

[Mike88]

According to Expresso newspaper, Temido's substitution could drag on a bit, as PM Costa wants her to oversee the creation of a CEO of the NHS, and other proposed government reforms, to be presented in cabinet during the month of September.

Marta Temido says goodbye to the PM and cabinet members as she presents the new NHS reform. Her successor could be known in the next few hours:

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1567892888620613634

Government: Marta Temido says goodbye from her post as Minister of Health. Successor could take office as early as this weekend

In the end to today's cabinet meeting, where energy saving measures and a new NHS reform were approved, Marta Temido showed up at a press conference, alongside Minister of Cabinet Mariana Vieira da Silva, to announce the cabinet decisions and to say goodbye and wishing well and success to her successor. She explained the new NHS reform, which will create a "NHS CEO" which will have full autonomy from the Health minister. This reform is controversial and President Marcelo has deep doubts about this reform.

PM Costa could announce the name of the next Health minister in the next few hours and he or she could take the oath of office during the weekend.

[Mike88]

PM Costa could announce the name of the next Health minister in the next few hours and he or she could take the oath of office during the weekend.

Costa picks MEP Manuel Pizarro as new Health minister:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1568267245087866882

Manuel Pizarro is the new Minister of Health.

PM Costa choose MEP Manuel Pizarro as the new Health minister. He will take the oath of office tomorrow. Mr Pizarro was Health secretary during the Sócrates cabinets (2008-2011), and was the PS leader in Porto city, leading his party to defeat in the 2017 local elections. Since 2019, he's a member of the European Parliament. The opposition has reacted badly to Costa's pick: PSD accuses Costa of becoming more and more limited in his picks; CHEGA says that Costa should have pick someone more independent and with more management expertise, while IL says that Costa is happy with the current state of the NHS and that he lost the capacity to attract new people to government. BE says that the new minister "changes nothing" adding that the same "failed policies" will continue, while PCP has doubts that Pizarro will be able to change things.

In the media, the reaction is a bit lukewarm: If some pundits argue that it's difficult to do worse than Marta Temido, others point that this pick is a disappointment as there's a lack of ambition and goals in the government.

[Mike88]

Costa tries to stop the avalanche of criticisms from the "pension fiasco" by suggesting that additional pension increases could occur in 2024:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1569039604895944706

“What the opposition is talking about is the 2024 increases. But what we want to say to the opposition is the following: just as over these years we have been able to correct the formula with extraordinary increases (…), in a year we will also be here to tell pensioners what the increase will be for 2024”, guaranteed the prime minister at the PS Parliamentary Gathering.

After a week of intense criticism, from left to right, and from media/pundits, PM Costa tried to amend the errors done when announcing the changes of how pensions will be calculated after 2024. In a rally, in the beginning of the PS Parliamentary Gathering in Leiria city, Costa said that additional pension increases in 2024 could be possible but warned that increases in 2023 could be dangerous for the future, that is, the sustainability of Social Security. He added that he leads a "responsible government" and that he cannot give a "take a step bigger than the leg", warning of the consequences and that the path is "right accounts and reinforcement in the NHS". He also accused the opposition of having the same speech that the government is always late, but that the right moment to implement measures was now as the situation is clear now.

[Mike88]

Costa's interview to TVI/CNN Portugal: There is no "trick" regarding pensions and a "windfall tax" is still to be analysed.

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1569418216107298816

Costa and the increase in pensions: "There is no trick"

After a hot summer full of controversies, gaffes, and, last week, anti-inflation measures that created more doubts than certainties, PM António Costa gave an interview to TVI and CNN Portugal in which the PM tried to "put the breaks" on a really bad couple of weeks for the government. Yesterday, in a rally in Leiria, Costa already started to try to contain the damage of the last week, and in the interview, Costa refused any tricks about pension increases in 2023, 2024 and beyond, pressing that pensioners will be raised in October, 3%, and then 3-4% in January 2023, thus, according to him, following the law but regarding 2024, the PM will only speak in 2023, and refused any idea of cuts. He announced that inflation, the average of 2022, will be around 7.4% and the public employees will only have a maximum of 2% increase in wages next year. The PS is currently divided on a possible "windfall tax", with many Socialists demanding this tax, while Costa isn't sure. Again, Costa said he will "analyse" the proposal and see what happens in other countries. Regarding the ongoing NHS crisis, Costa pressed that investment grew 40% since he was PM and highlighted the new NHS reform, but was very vague on what, for example, the newly created CEO of the NHS will actually do. On the long soap opera of the new Lisbon airport, Costa said that talks with the PSD are going fine and a decision could be made during 2023, and added that Pedro Nuno Santos will just implement what he, Costa, decides.

[Mike88]

Update on local by-elections:

Last Sunday, 11 September 2022, the parish of São Julião e Silva, Valença municipality, Viana do Castelo district, held a by-election after several disagreements regarding the formation of a parish administration that, ultimately, led to the resignation of the members of the most voted list, an Independent one, in the September 2021 local elections. The incumbent list, "Alexandre Lagoa - Strengthen São Julião e Silva" (AL), won by a landslide and with a majority:

Vote share %:

64.1% AL (+30.1), 5 seats (+2)
33.0% JPSJS (new), 2
  2.4% CDU (new), 0
  0.5% Invalid ballots (-3.9)

74.9% Turnout (-3.1)

Two more by-elections have been called:

- Mascarenhas parish in Mirandela, Bragança district for 6 November 2022;
- São Jacinto parish in Aveiro for 13 November 2022;

Both parishes are PS minorities. In São Jacinto (Aveiro), the incumbent PS president resigned after accusations of financial and reckless mismanagement, and in Mascarenhas (Mirandela) the local parish fell after the PSD/CDS opposition rejected the PS parish administration.

[Mike88]

"Monty Python" moment of BE:

https://twitter.com/Lusa_noticias/status/1570356596882178050

Catarina Martins defends the reduction of BE employees with “right accounts”

In an interview to Público newspaper, BE leader Catarina Martins responded to criticisms that the party is firing party employees by saying that her party needs to have "right accounts" in order to have its independence and be debt free. At the same time, BE is accusing the PS majority government of only thinking of "right accounts" and "balanced budget" and of forgeting social aid and relief.

The political scene in Portugal is becoming schizophrenic: PCP is now a pariah because of their pro-Russia positions; BE has gone full nonsense by preaching one thing and then doing the exact opposite; PS has become full center-right, literally, with Costa warning that there is no money, proposing pension reform and basically admitting that "there's no alternative"; the PSD, well, is basically saying "we will cut taxes, increase pensions according to law and grow the economy". How? That's the question. CHEGA continues to be "a personality cult", while IL is, IMO, just copying the PSD, or the PSD is copying IL, whatever, nothing new coming from them. PAN and Livre are basically irrelevant right now.

[VPH]

"Monty Python" moment of BE:

https://twitter.com/Lusa_noticias/status/1570356596882178050

Catarina Martins defends the reduction of BE employees with “right accounts”

In an interview to Público newspaper, BE leader Catarina Martins responded to criticisms that the party is firing party employees by saying that her party needs to have "right accounts" in order to have its independence and be debt free. At the same time, BE is accusing the PS majority government of only thinking of "right accounts" and "balanced budget" and of forgeting social aid and relief.

The political scene in Portugal is becoming schizophrenic: PCP is now a pariah because of their pro-Russia positions; BE has gone full nonsense by preaching one thing and then doing the exact opposite; PS has become full center-right, literally, with Costa warning that there is no money, proposing pension reform and basically admitting that "there's no alternative"; the PSD, well, is basically saying "we will cut taxes, increase pensions according to law and grow the economy". How? That's the question. CHEGA continues to be "a personality cult", while IL is, IMO, just copying the PSD, or the PSD is copying IL, whatever, nothing new coming from them. PAN and Livre are basically irrelevant right now.

It's time for Tino de Rans and RIR to dominate the political scene ala Macron LMAO

In all seriousness, this seems like a time of political stagnation in Portugal. There's theoretically ground to Costa's left that he is risking but he also smartly knows that nobody wants to vote for the left-wing parties right now.

[Mike88]

It's time for Tino de Rans and RIR to dominate the political scene ala Macron LMAO

In all seriousness, this seems like a time of political stagnation in Portugal. There's theoretically ground to Costa's left that he is risking but he also smartly knows that nobody wants to vote for the left-wing parties right now.

Tino de Rans no longer leads RIR but he still has a lot of influence in the party. He resigned from the leadership after the January elections, and a new one was elected but he's still chair of the party's general assembly, so he's still active in the party.

The leftwing is completely lost right now. They look untrustworthy and a bit useless and you're right, Costa knows that he may be risking but no one takes the leftwing seriously. Here enters the controversial strategy that many accuse the PS of pursuing: the CHEGA strategy. With the leftwing completely in ruins and lost, Costa and the PS feel comfortable in moving towards the "center-right", and the "goal" of this is to push more and more the PSD to the right, shore up CHEGA in discussions and force the PSD to take embarrassing positions: are on the side of CHEGA or the PS? We see this is the ongoing feud between Ventura and Speaker Santos Silva, which infuriates the PSD, but even within the PS the point of this feud is controversial. Many pundits also criticise this "strategy" arguing that it's morally wrong and it could backfire.

So, Costa feels "somewhat" comfortable, but until when? Yes, the leftwing is in tatters but could Costa's gamble of "going well with God and the Devil" infuriate leftwing voters? And where would these voters go: Back to PCP/BE or, how knows, CHEGA or Livre? Plus, will Costa's new strategy on pensions be well received by voters? Pensioners are the main voting bloc of the PS, losing a chunk of them to other parties would be disastrous for the Socialists future prospects. And the PSD, will their new leader and strategy be able to attract possible voters, especially pensioners, who may feel angry with the PS? Plenty to see how it might unfold.

[Mike88]

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

Vote happened early this afternoon: Parliament approves the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.

In favour: PS, PSD, CHEGA, IL, Livre and PAN
Against: PCP and BE

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

It's time for Tino de Rans and RIR to dominate the political scene ala Macron LMAO

In all seriousness, this seems like a time of political stagnation in Portugal. There's theoretically ground to Costa's left that he is risking but he also smartly knows that nobody wants to vote for the left-wing parties right now.

If Costa's strategy is really to move as far from the left as possible and force a choice between him and the far-right, then he's the more appropriate comparison with Macron... of course, I think that's bad on the merits in addition to being likely to backfire. BE and PSD are in a pretty bad state right now but this could change, and CHEGA being a total joke so far has never seemed to be that much of a hindrance to its rise, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

This was only mentioned in passing but I also imagine the whole deal will make the intra-party fight for succeeding Costa as leader even more acrimonious when the time comes.

[Mike88]

It's time for Tino de Rans and RIR to dominate the political scene ala Macron LMAO

In all seriousness, this seems like a time of political stagnation in Portugal. There's theoretically ground to Costa's left that he is risking but he also smartly knows that nobody wants to vote for the left-wing parties right now.

If Costa's strategy is really to move as far from the left as possible and force a choice between him and the far-right, then he's the more appropriate comparison with Macron... of course, I think that's bad on the merits in addition to being likely to backfire. BE and PSD are in a pretty bad state right now but this could change, and CHEGA being a total joke so far has never seemed to be that much of a hindrance to its rise, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

This was only mentioned in passing but I also imagine the whole deal will make the intra-party fight for succeeding Costa as leader even more acrimonious when the time comes.

Almost everybody expects that Costa's succession will be a traumatic experience for the party. Choosing between Medina, who is deeply unpopular, PNS, who is wounded but wants to be leader at any cost, and other PS and ministerial figures that are not well known or don't have any party base support, will be very complicated for the PS, especially if Costa lasts until 2026 and surpasses 10 years in power.

[crals]

About the "Chega strategy", it's something that has bothered me for a long time. The amount of attention the party gets from the media and left-wingers has always been totally dispropportionate to their size (only 1 MP until very recently, but it started to some extent before they even entered parliament) and contributed to their great result. Part of it surely was just sensationalism and extreme naivety on how to deal with the populist right, but at times it was clearly an attempt by some of the left to boost themselves in the short term at the possible expense of Portuguese democracy in the long term.

[Mike88]

About the "Chega strategy", it's something that has bothered me for a long time. The amount of attention the party gets from the media and left-wingers has always been totally dispropportionate to their size (only 1 MP until very recently, but it started to some extent before they even entered parliament) and contributed to their great result. Part of it surely was just sensationalism and extreme naivety on how to deal with the populist right, but at times it was clearly an attempt by some of the left to boost themselves in the short term at the possible expense of Portuguese democracy in the long term.

100% agree with you Crals. That "strategy" was already in place, just remember what happened in the aftermath of the Azores 2020 election, but it's now more widespread and transparent as CHEGA is the third largest party and polling at around 10%.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper:

Vote share %: (after 13.9% of undecideds are excluded)

35.5% PS (-3.0)
28.7% PSD (+2.2)
10.7% CHEGA (+0.9)
  6.0% IL (-2.3)
  6.0% BE (+0.2)
  3.4% CDU (+0.7)
  2.9% PAN (+1.4)
  2.1% Livre (-0.1)
  1.3% CDS (+0.5)
  3.4% Others/Invalid (-0.6)

Popularity ratings: (between 1 and 5)

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

Poll conducted between 9 and 15 September 2022. Polled 606 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

Taxes continue to divide the PS: A "windfall tax" and corporate tax reduction is creating division within the party and government.

The Socialist Party is deeply divided on a possible windfall tax, and PM Costa is a clear evidence of that. Since, it was clear that energy companies would have record profits, the debate was on but Costa first was undecided, then rejected and now, he seems to be changing his tone again. In an interview to TVI, last week, Costa already started changing his tone, and today the PM announced that Portugal would support the EU's plan to tax extraordinary profits, adding, however, that he's still "analysing" the Portuguese situation. But, Costa's own Economy minister gave an interview, 2 days ago, saying that companies "aren't ready" for a windfall tax and that we need to understand how the market works and how the Portuguese fiscal situation is in reality.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1572275878796873733

Will IRC go down for all companies? A Minister's word is not a government decision.
After leaving the Minister of Economy alone to present the support package for companies, António Costa again leaves Costa Silva to speak alone on the proposal to reduce the IRC for companies across the board.

Another tax on the news is corporate tax (IRC). In that same interview, 2 days ago, Costa's Economy minister, António Costa e Silva, promissed to propose a corporate tax reduction for the 2023 budget. The minister points that the current crisis in companies and businesses needs strong decisions and a tax cut would be positive. However, this is not being well received by the party as whole: Several PS members, off the record, are saying this is a bad idea and that there are other priorities. One of those critics is Costa's former Economy minister, Pedro Siza Vieira (2019-2022), who points that a corporate tax cut is the wrong approach and that tax benefits for businesses who use their profits to invest in themselves, is the best path. And even within the government, there are voices who say that tax cuts aren't the right solution: The budget secretary, António Mendonça Mendes, said that "fiscal shocks", meaning tax cuts, don't solve economic problems.

So, the picture is quite unclear, right now.

[MaxQue]

Wait, are both the PM and Economy called Antonio Costa?

[crals]

Wait, are both the PM and Economy called Antonio Costa?

Yup. Very common name and surname.

[Mike88]

If taxes are creating divisions in the government, the government is also under fire for a "trainwreck" report that explains why pensions have to be cut:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1572346275949051906

Pensions. "Lack of accuracy" in the calculations also reaches expenses

With the government still under intense criticisms because of their policies to cut the increase rate of pensions after 2023, and for the misleading way they announced it to the country, a new controversy is again putting the government under fire. To try to explain that the changes in pensions are to guarantee the sustainability of Social Security (SS) in the long haul, the government released a report that shows that if the current pensions calculations weren't suspended, SS would enter in deficit by the end of the decade. However, economists and opposition parties are trashing the report accusing the government of making calculations that don't make sense and of hiding data and info that doesn't fit to their narrative. Economists point that the government is forgeting to add the 1,3 billion euros in extra revenue, due to inflation, for this year and also forgot to add other expenses, like unemployment benefits or updates in social supports, that could be lower in the future.

Several economists are surprised and worried by the government's calculations and some are demanding an audit to the Social Security's accounts, warning that the government may be hidding a big financial hole in the pensions system.

[Mike88]

Vacant Deputy Speaker seat: MPs to vote on a new CHEGA candidate but it will fail as PS is expected to vote against, however, PSD is now advising their MPs to vote in favour.

This afternoon, MPs will vote for a third time to fill one of the two deputy speaker vacancies in the Parliamentary leadership. CHEGA is proposing MP Rui Paulo Sousa as their candidate, but, again, the candidate will probably lose. The PS caucus leader has announced he will vote against and added that a majority of the PS caucus will vote against, but didn't announce an overall vote position. The leftwing parties, PCP and BE, are also expected to vote against, but in the PSD there's a change in tone: If in the first two votes, the party gave freedom of vote to their MPs, this time the party is advising their MPs to vote in favour of CHEGA's candidate, saying the 4 most voted parties in the Assembly have the right to have a deputy speaker.