🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Wow, I did not realize how quickly this TAP controversy had escalated. I sense that Marcelo would ideally sack Costa soon but is very concerned that an alternative right-wing majority would be entirely conditional on CHEGA (the PSD can barely crack first place in the polls!) when clearly everyone in the PSD would rather not have to deal with that question... and probably also about overstepping his role, though I don't have a good idea of how controversial the dismissal of Santana Lopes was or a future one could be.

[Mike88]

Wow, I did not realize how quickly this TAP controversy had escalated. I sense that Marcelo would ideally sack Costa soon but is very concerned that an alternative right-wing majority would be entirely conditional on CHEGA (the PSD can barely crack first place in the polls!) when clearly everyone in the PSD would rather not have to deal with that question... and probably also about overstepping his role, though I don't have a good idea of how controversial the dismissal of Santana Lopes was or a future one could be.

In my view, Marcelo is "throwing" into the public arena the idea of dissolution more to regain control and power than anything else. Since last January, when the PS won its unexpected majority, Marcelo saw his influence diminished as PMs with single party majorities tend to become also "Presidential". But, the constant surge of cases, scandals and blunt incompetence of Costa's cabinet is giving Marcelo the chance to regain that power of deciding the fate of the government and conditioning everything and everyone, a role he adores. Of course, his position would be stronger if he wasn't talking all of the time and "putting his foot in his mouth" more often than not, but, it is what it is. I don't think Marcelo considers "firing" Costa and dissolving Parliament until mid 2024, at the latest. Like you said, if the current situation is already "swampy", just imagine a PS or PSD minority with the current political environment. By May 2024, there will be EU elections which will be a "referendum" to the PS and the Opposition, and we don't even know if Costa is going to be invited for some EU post.

The 2004 Sampaio dismissal of Santana was a bit controversial at the time, although not that much, but after the Sócrates debacle there was more discussion if it was the right decision, but what was done was done. Santana Lopes was always a figure the PSD never liked and when he became PM, many people within his own party basically boycotted the government as cases, scandals were appearing by the day. When the PS had a new leader, Sócrates, and was surging in the polls, Sampaio pulled the plug, with the support of many high profile PSD members. So, there are differences compared with that time: Santana was unelected, Costa has won 2 elections in a row; The economic crisis wasn't that severe; and the Opposition was clearly more popular and united in one party, which is not the case today.

[Mike88]

The next episodes of the ongoing crisis will continue after the break.

Yesterday, another hearing at the TAP parliamentary committee made news. The airline's Chairperson, Manuel Beja, trashed both the Government and the airline's CEO, accusing the Government of "wanting to control TAP" and accusing the CEO of "lack of judgment":

https://twitter.com/ECO_PT/status/1645896035854606337

Manuel Beja says that the role of the PS has not been one of scrutiny but of “protection of the Government”

He pointed that the Government, along the way, "lost the plot" and instead of not meddling in the airline started to assume full control of all decisions in the airline. He also accused former minister Pedro Nuno Santos of ignoring his calls and warnings and accused the Finance ministry of total "immobility" regarding TAP. He also added that he tried to stop the dismissal of Alexandra Reis from TAP, but that the shareholder, the Government, was totally against him and aligned with the CEO. He also informed the committee that he was only informed of his firing by a phone call on the same day of the press conference in which the Government also fired TAP's CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener, adding that his dismissal can only be explained by "party convenience".

During his hearing, two tense moments occurred: Mr. Beja accused the PS of just wanting to protect the Government and not scrutinize it, an accusation that upset the PS MPs in the committee; Mr. Beja also clashed with a CHEGA MP because of an accusation from Mr. Beja that CHEGA was lying about the firing of an employee from TAP.

[Mike88]

Gomes Cravinho is also involved in another controversy: While in a visit to Brazil, Gomes Cravinho announced that President Lula da Silva would give a speech at the 25 April day ceremony in Parliament but... no one was informed and backlash against the minister started with parties, left to right, accusing the minister of "running over" the authority of Parliament. PSD and IL refuse Lula's speech on the 25th April but are fine with another day, CHEGA accuses Cravinho of disrespecting Parliament, while BE accuses the government of making a "political number". Speaker Santos Silva says that decision will only be made at an "appropriate date" and only after parties are heard.

The "Lulagate" is now apparently settled: President Lula will not speak at the 25 April ceremony and will give a speech to Parliament in a separate session. The day is yet to be decided. CHEGA was the only party to vote against.

The day of Lula's speech in Parliament was decided this morning: It will be on a separate session on 25 April, one hour and a half before the official ceremony of the 25 April revolution.

However, CHEGA and IL contest the day itself, with CHEGA saying they would preferred another date and promissing a "big" rally against Lula's speech in Parliament. IL, on the other hand, didn't protest against the date in the Parliamentary meeting, but the party has already stated that it doesn't agree with the 25 April date and that only it's caucus leader will be present during the speech in the Chamber. CHEGA is yet to decide if it will be present during the speech or not.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper:

Vote share %: (after 10.4% of undecideds are excluded)

28.1% PS (-0.3)
26.9% PSD (-0.4)
14.7% CHEGA (-0.5)
  8.2% IL (+0.3)
  7.8% BE (+0.6)
  4.8% CDU (+1.2)
  2.6% PAN (+0.9)
  1.6% CDS (+0.1)
  1.2% Livre (-1.5)
  4.1% Others/Invalid (-0.4)

Popularity ratings: (between 1 and 5)

2.8 Luís Montenegro (+0.1)
2.8 Rui Rocha (+0.2)
2.7 Rui Tavares (+0.1)
2.7 Inês Sousa Real (+0.2)
2.6 António Costa (nc)
2.6 Catarina Martins (nc)
2.6 Nuno Melo (+0.2)
2.3 Paulo Raimundo (+0.1)
2.2 André Ventura (-0.1)

Poll conducted between 6 and 12 April 2023. Polled 610 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

- She confirmed that she had a "meeting" with PS MPs and a few junior government members one day before her January testimony in Parliament, which surprised Opposition MPs as this is not normal. This meeting seems to have been schedule by João Galamba's, Infrastructure minister, office. Ms.Widener also identified a PS MP that was in that meeting and was also sitting in the Committee questioning her, MP Carlos Pereira from Madeira;

Carlos Pereira resigns from his position in the TAP Committee because of the "controversial" meeting, but there's another case haunting him:

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1646669800712593409

CGD pardoned debt of Carlos Pereira, who abandons the TAP inquiry

PS MP Carlos Pereira, from Madeira, has announced he was resigning from his post in the TAP Parliamentary Committee after the revelation that he took part in a meeting between the then TAP CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener, and a few junior government members one day before Ms. Widener was due to be "grilled" in a Parliamentary Inquiry in January this year. This meeting created a lot of controversy and there was a lot of confusion in the explanation given by Mr. Pereira and the PS. So, Mr. Pereira announced, this morning, he was leaving his post in order to protect the results of the Committee and to "safeguard the best interests of the Socialist Party". He pressed that, in his opinion, there was no violation of rules of conduct regarding this meeting and that he resigns from the Committee for "personal reasons".

But, at the same time, he's being haunted by a story, published by Correio da Manhã newspaper, that he was pardoned a 66,000 euros debt to Caixa Geral de Depósitos, the State owned bank, at the same he was the rapporteur of a Parliamentary Committee to the same bank. Carlos Pereira denies the accusation of favoritism, saying that there was no debt pardon, and adds that these kind of reports only fuel "an atmosphere of unwarranted suspicion".

[Mike88]

Change in tone in the PSD? Montenegro could announce that he will reject any deal or talks with CHEGA:

Montenegro rejects, for the first time, any kind of deals with CHEGA: "We will not have in government racist, populist and opportunist politicians, nor deals or talks".

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1646849815148478466

The PSD will not make any electoral agreement with Chega, not even a parliamentary deal that could lead to a kind of “right-wing contraption“. In an interview that you can see this Friday at 22:00 on CNN Portugal, the leader of the...

In an interview to be aired this Friday evening on CNN Portugal, PSD leader Luís Montenegro, for the first time, rejects any deal or negotiation with CHEGA in the possibility of a future right-wing majority, pressing that in a government led by him, there will be no place for "racist, opportunist and populist politicians". He added that he specially doesn't want in his government "immaturity and irresponsibility". He went on to say that there is a "clear alternative" to the PS saying he's The alternative to the PS, adding that polls "are worth what they are worth". President Marcelo has been pressing, weirdly a lot lately, the idea that there is no alternative to PS, which is infuriating the PSD and there's currently a "war of words" between Montenegro and Marcelo.

[Mike88]

"Cringe" moment of the day: PSD MP and romantic/pop singer, Luís Gomes, music name Luís Gomez, releases a new song and videoclip staring him and the Bâtonnier of the Nurses Association, Ana Rita Cavaco, who is also from the PSD.

On the plus side, it's nice to see two people from the PSD getting along, for a change.

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV/CM newspaper on possible post-Costa PS candidates vs Montenegro:

Q: Who do you trust more to be Prime Minister?

42.0% Luís Montenegro
36.9% Marta Temido
21.1% Undecided

43.4% Luís Montenegro
30.7% Mariana Vieira da Silva
25.9% Undecided

44.9% Luís Montenegro
27.0% Pedro Nuno Santos
28.0% Undecided

49.8% Luís Montenegro
22.1% Fernando Medina
28.0% Undecided

46.1% Luís Montenegro
20.8% Duarte Cordeiro
33.1% Undecided

Poll conducted between 6 and 12 April 2023. Polled 610 voters. MoE of 4.00%.

[Mike88]

Local by-elections: Ribeirão parish, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga district, goes to the polls on 11 June.

The Electoral Commission has called a by-election for Ribeirão parish, Vila Nova de Famalicão, for 11 June 2023. The by-election was called because of a very "weird" reason: An error in a budget for a new elevator at the parish headquarters (lol), generated a big dispute between the PSD/CDS minority and the Opposition, so much so that even if the PSD/CDS proposed to correct the numbers, the Opposition, nonetheless, rejected the budget and, in retaliation, the PSD/CDS minority resigned from their seats and the local management fell.

So far, 5 lists have been announced: PSD/CDS, an Independent movement, PS, CDU and CHEGA. The PSD/CDS have been governing the parish since 2001, but lost their majority in 2021. Ribeirão has, according to the 2021 Census, a population of 9,061 inhabitants and had, by late 2022, 7,982 registered voters.

This will be the biggest by-election since September 2014.

[Mike88]

A final solution will only be presented next week, and a wider relief package for families and businesses is expected to be present during the next few days.

Government presents new relief package for families with 0% VAT on food, 1% wage increase for public workers and a 45 euros monthly support for poorer families:

Adding to the relief package of 3 weeks ago, Costa announces a 3.57% mid-term raise for pensioners during July:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1647969936109707265

Pensioners will have an mid-tem increase of 3.57% in July.

In a press conference this afternoon, PM Costa announced a 3.57% mid-term increase for pensioners in July in order to fight the ongoing rising cost of living. Pensions until 5,765 euros will be increased in order to compensate the almost 4% cut in pension increases decided in the 2023 budget. In fact, Costa "subtlety" confirmed the accusation, from Economists and the Opposition, that the government was planning to cut 1 billion euros in pensions, although the PM continues to deny any such intention, but because the economy grew more than what was expected, and because tax revenues reached an all time high, there is enough money to increase pensions in 2023 and 2024. After that, all depends on the economic situation of the country as no pension increase formula is on the table.

Pundits are saying that this is a another "U-turn" from Costa's government, but that at the same time, he's creating an illusion that pension increases are guaranteed, when in reality, that's not the case. In fact, some pundits say that these pension measures would be done precisely by a center-right government, but the difference is that Costa isn't explaining everything to pensioners. Some also argue that this announcement is an attempt to "distract" from the bad polls and scandals of the last few weeks. Reactions from parties are that these measures are just "crumbs" and that the government is "playing with the lives of pensioners" for not giving stability in terms of pension increases.

[Mike88]

The new draft bill will now be sent to President Marcelo for approval, veto or submission to the Courts. Pundits believe that the most likely scenario is the President deciding to sent the bill to the Constitutional Court again. The main change on this new draft bill is that Euthanasia will only be allowed if the physical incapacity of a person bars assisted medical suicide. However, this change in the bill wasn't that unanimous between some MPs, specially within the PS, as some have doubts about the new draft.

Euthanasia bill: President Marcelo vetoes the new bill and the bill is sent back to Parliament.

The 6th attempt to legalize Euthanasia in Portugal ended in failure, again, as President Marcelo decided to veto the new bill and send it back to Parliament. The President wants Parliament to clarify who defines the "physical incapacity" of the patient and who will supervise the act of medical assisted death. The President presses that the topic is very sensitive and no doubt should remain regarding its application.

Parliament will now decide if it will change, again, the text of the bill or force the same bill to the President.

[Mike88]

The day was also marked by the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the PS. Several events were held during the day, from a homage at the grave of Mário Soares and Maria Barroso to a dinner-rally this evening. But, in the early afternoon, a PS event in the party's headquarters in Lisbon was "derailed" by 3 climate activists who pulled down their pants and showed their asses, which had "Occupy!" written on them.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1648683220249051138

Three activists from the Student Climate Strike interrupted the PS session, with several socialists present, including António Costa, and showed their tails: “Occupy!”, they wrote, claiming that the PS “should not be celebrating”

[Mike88]

Euthanasia bill: President Marcelo vetoes the new bill and the bill is sent back to Parliament.
(...)
Parliament will now decide if it will change, again, the text of the bill or force the same bill to the President.

Parliament is set to ignore the President's advice and will force the same bill to the President:

Parliament is set to ignore President Marcelo's advice to clarify some points in the new Euthanasia bill and will force the same bill, with no changes to the President. The PS has already confirmed they will vote, again, in favour of the same bill and responded to President Marcelo that it's time to respect the "Parliamentary Majority and Parliament". BE and IL, who with the PS drafted the new bill, are expected to follow the Socialist's vote.

With this decision, Euthanasia legalization in Portugal is on the verge of becoming a reality as, by law, the President will be forced to sign the bill into law. Parties and MPs, however, can still ask the Constitutional Court to verify the legality of the law.

[Mike88]

TAPgate continues: The saga of the "legal opinion", that validated the firing of TAP's former CEO and Chairman, that the Government was refusing to reveal because... it doesn't exist.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1649157775375646723

After a day in which two female ministers explained why TAP's opinion did not appear, Fernando Medina clarified: there is none

In the last few days, the Government and the Opposition have been "at war" because of the secret government's legal opinion that validated the decision to fire the former TAP CEO and Chairman. The Opposition in the TAP Parliamentary Committee (CPI) demanded that the Government released that document, but the Government refused saying that it would "risk the State's defense position" in the Courts or that the secrecy was to "safeguard public interest". These responses were given by the ministers of the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva, and Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, and the Opposition, mainly the PSD, attacked the Government accusing them even of crimes of disobedience to Parliament.

This dragged on for 48 hours, with the Government pressing that the document should remain secret and with Opposition parties demanding the handover of the document and, if not, suggesting that it seems that there could be no document. And that's the truth. In an another Parliamentary Committee, Finance Minister Fernando Medina confirmed that there is no legal opinion and that the decision to fire the former TAP CEO and Chairman was totally based of the IGF report. The revelation is surprising everyone as it basically shows that Medina's cabinet colleagues presented "alternative facts", to say the least, and that the base to fire TAP's CEO is quite shaky. Plus, some pundits are pointing that the Government could have lied to the CPI regarding the existence of this document, which is a crime.

At the same time, it was revealed that the Finance Ministry, headed by Medina, filed a complaint against a newspaper, Jornal Económico, because of a headline that said that Medina was still finding a just cause to fire the former TAP CEO well after the public firing of the CEO in early March. After today's revelation, this complaint is a total joke.

[Mike88]

Parliament votes to ban sexual conversion therapies. No parties voted against, but 6 PS MPs, CHEGA and PCP abstained:

https://twitter.com/ArVotacoes/status/1649435515391729668

Bill (PS) - Prohibits offensive practices against LGBT+ people through so-called "sexual conversion therapies"

Full results:

190 In favour (109 PS; 67 PSD; 7 IL; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre)
    0 Against
  22 Abstained (11 CHEGA; 6 PS; 5 PCP)
  18 Absent (10 PSD; 5 PS; 1 CHEGA; 1 IL; 1 PCP)

[Mike88]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio:

Vote share %:

28.6% PSD (+3.5)
28.3% PS (+1.2)
12.1% CHEGA (-0.8 )
  6.3% BE (-0.3)
  6.1% IL (-3.4)
  4.5% PAN (+1.4)
  3.5% CDU (-1.3)
  2.7% Livre (-0.7)
  1.3% CDS (-0.1)
  6.6% Others/Invalid (+0.5)

Preferred PM:

38% António Costa (nc)
21% Luís Montenegro (+2)
34% Neither (-3)
  2% Both (+1)
  5% Undecided (nc)

Popularity ratings: (difference between Approve and Disapprove)

Rui Tavares -2.0
Rui Rocha -5.0
Inês Sousa Real -11.0
Catarina Martins -14.0
Luís Montenegro -21.0
Nuno Melo -21.0
André Ventura -26.0
Paulo Raimundo -28.0
António Costa -31.0

Government approval:

60% Disapprove (+1)
23% Approve (+3)
15% Neither approve or disapprove (-3)
  2% Undecided (-1)

President Marcelo approval:

44% Approve (-1)
37% Disapprove (+2)
18% Neither approve or disapprove (nc)
  1% Undecided (-1)

Poll conducted between 10 and 14 April 2023. Polled 805 voters. MoE of 3.45%.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Parliament votes to ban sexual conversion therapies. No parties voted against, but 6 PS MPs, CHEGA and PCP abstained:

Full results:

190 In favour (109 PS; 67 PSD; 7 IL; 5 BE; 1 PAN; 1 Livre)
    0 Against
  22 Abstained (11 CHEGA; 6 PS; 5 PCP)
  18 Absent (10 PSD; 5 PS; 1 CHEGA; 1 IL; 1 PCP)

I am rather curious about the source of the abstentions - all of the PCP? Six PS but zero PSD? That sounds odd.

Popularity ratings: (difference between Approve and Disapprove)

Rui Tavares -2.0
Rui Rocha -5.0
Inês Sousa Real -11.0
Catarina Martins -14.0
Luís Montenegro -21.0
Nuno Melo -21.0
André Ventura -26.0
Paulo Raimundo -28.0
António Costa -31.0

Now that's a turnaround for Costa... obviously tracks with the party preference polls but it takes something to become more unpopular than André Ventura.

[Mike88]

Not sure why those 6 PS MPs abstained, maybe it was because of the text itself and I believe the bill will now go to a Parliamentary Committee and then the final draft will be presented for a final vote in Parliament.

Well, popularity ranking dramatically differ from polling company to polling company. But, the common trend in all of them is a deep fall in the popularity of the Prime Minister, even if in some polls he's still polling ahead of other party leaders. It will be interesting to see if last week's pension increase announcement will have any impact in polling. The media is criticizing the PM for this U-turn, even though Costa refuses to say it was a U-turn and blames the rightwing for all the fuss around it.

[Mike88]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio on the State of Portuguese Democracy:

Q1: What is the State of the Portuguese Democracy compared with 10 years ago?

43% Worse
33% Better
22% Same
  2% Undecided

Q2: What's the significance of the 25 April to Portuguese society?

86% Important
  6% Not Important
  7% Average
  1% Undecided

Q3: Trust in Institutions:

Armed Forces: 43% Trust; 19% Don't trust
Police: 38% Trust; 24% Don't Trust
Presidency of the Republic: 38% Trust; 27% Don't Trust
Prosecutor's Office: 24% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
Parliament: 22% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
Unions: 22% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
The Media: 23% Trust; 42% Don't Trust
The Government: 22% Trust; 47% Don't Trust
Courts: 17% Trust; 47% Don't Trust

Poll conducted between 10 and 14 April 2023. Polled 805 voters. MoE of 3.45%.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio on the State of Portuguese Democracy:

Q1: What is the State of the Portuguese Democracy compared with 10 years ago?

43% Worse
33% Better
22% Same
  2% Undecided

Q2: What's the significance of the 25 April to Portuguese society?

86% Important
  6% Not Important
  7% Average
  1% Undecided

Q3: Trust in Institutions:

Armed Forces: 43% Trust; 19% Don't trust
Police: 38% Trust; 24% Don't Trust
Presidency of the Republic: 38% Trust; 27% Don't Trust
Prosecutor's Office: 24% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
Parliament: 22% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
Unions: 22% Trust; 40% Don't Trust
The Media: 23% Trust; 42% Don't Trust
The Government: 22% Trust; 47% Don't Trust
Courts: 17% Trust; 47% Don't Trust

Poll conducted between 10 and 14 April 2023. Polled 805 voters. MoE of 3.45%.

Trust in unions, the government, and parliament...don't look too good for PS.

[Mike88]

Trust in unions, the government, and parliament...don't look too good for PS.

In unions we are seeing a "realignment" due to the fall of the PCP and its influence. This is more notorious in the teachers unions which were dominated by the PCP controlled FENPROF and has now been substituted by a new one, STOP, more radical, innovative and engaging, which is, of course, creating tensions between both sides. The government, there's not much to say about it, it is what it is. And Parliament, well, today was another day to reinforce the lack of trust in MPs:

CHEGA MPs interrupt Lula da Silva's speech which led Speaker Augusto Santos Silva to furiously address CHEGA:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1650805718352527365

Faced with a protest by Chega, the president of the AR drew the attention of the deputies. At the end of the session, Augusto Santos Silva apologized for the incident.

Everbody was expecting for Lula da Silva's speech in Parliament to be tense, adding to this the pro and against protests outside in front of Parliament, although the turnout was quite low. As President Lula was about to start his speech, the 12 CHEGA MPs started protesting holding up signs with the Ukrainian flag and with "Enough of corruption" written on them. Santos Silva didn't like the protest and said that MPs have to learn to behave, that they need to stop the insults and degrading institutions. After this incident, President Lula went on with his speech while CHEGA MPs continued holding up those signs.

After Lula's speech, the official ceremony of the 25 April revolution started and it was quite low profile. The speeches, according to commentators, were "same old same old": Leftwing parties, BE and PCP warned about of the dangers of a weaken democracy and the surge of fascism; PSD and IL pointed to the rising poverty in Portugal; PS pressed that they are the only party to ensure stability; and CHEGA criticized the corruption in the government. Speaker Augusto Santos Silva seemed to "subtly" give a jibe to President Marcelo's constant remarks of "I may or may not dissolve Parliament" by pressing that mandates should be fulfilled and that any mature democracy understands this. President Marcelo, on the other hand, pressed that a lot of people are unsatisfied with the current state of the country and talked about the colonial past of Portugal, saying that the country should take up its responsibilities in the slave trade.

[Mike88]

After yesterday's CHEGA protest during Lula da Silva's speech, and the "reprimand" of Santos Silva to the party, the Speaker decided, today, that CHEGA will be banned from traveling to foreign Parliaments in future State visits. Ventura already is "playing the victim card" accusing Santos Silva of "dictatorial attitudes" and that the Speaker is being "childish and vengeful".

At the same time, an off the record video of Santos Silva, President Marcelo and PM Costa talking about the protest after the ceremony is being news because Santos Silva also trashes the Liberals (IL) for not being present during Lula's speech and accused them of having no "political integrity". IL is furious with Santos Silva and is already demanding a retraction from the Speaker.

Pundits and commentators say that even if Santos Silva is right in his criticisms of CHEGA's behavior, the decision of banning the party from foreign trips is a complete mistake as it will only exacerbate the tensions between the Speaker and CHEGA, and that his action should be more calm rather than inflammatory. Pundits also point to Santos Silva ambition to be a candidate for President of the Republic in 2026, but add that these kind of actions may not work to increase his chances of being elected.

[VPH]

What CHEGA did during Lula's speech was unquestionably ugly but I think it was best reprimanded and then ignored. Giving them more reason to tout themselves as martyrs is not a good idea.

[Mike88]

TAPgate, episode 4,627: New documents proof that indeed there was a concertation of questions and answers between the PS and the former TAP CEO before a Parliamentary committee and all was approved by minister João Galamba.

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1651659251708731397

At the secret meeting between the PS and the former CEO of TAP, in January, the questions that deputy Carlos Pereira should ask and the answers that Christine Ourmières-Widener should give at the hearing in Parliament were agreed. SIC had access to documents that...

The writting was on the wall and everybody had understood that the "secret meeting" between PS MPs and former TAP's CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener, was a media training meeting but now, new documents given by the government show that indeed that PS caucus, represented by MP Carlos Pereira, and the then TAP CEO concerted the questions and answers that would be asked by the PS and given by the CEO of TAP before a January 2023 Parliamentary Committee. Emails also show that these combined Q&As were approved by Infrastructure minister João Galamba. Adding to this, the documents also show that the government was, and probably is, who knows, divided on the reasons to fire the former TAP CEO and that a just cause to fire her was only prepared after she was publicly fired, something that the media had been reporting for some time now and that one newspaper, Jornal Econónico, is currently being sued by Medina for spreading "fake news" regarding this. After this revelation, which isn't surprising as everyone was seeing the whole picture other than the government, this complaint against the newspaper has probably its fate settled, the trash can.