Elections of 2024: You Decide - Portuguese Legislative Election

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

I'm bringing back an old series I did in 2019 by seeing how elections would go if only people from atlas voted. So, let's start off with Portugal, as it's the next election that isn't going to be in an obviously rigged environment.

Electoral System: The country is divided into 20 constituencies with varying seat numbers. Those living outside Portugal also may vote, with the world divided into 2 constituencies of Europe and Outside Europe. D'Hondt method is used within these districts to assign seats, meaning smaller parties often get in from high seat number districts like Lisbon or Porto. I will try to extrapolate this as best as I can here.

Parties:
Socialist Party (PS): The generic center-left, social democratic and pro-EU party. Party of the current government which was brought down by a corruption investigation.
Democratic Alliance (AD): Center-right to right-wing coalition of the main center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) [liberal-conservative, pro-EU], the kinda moribund CDS-People's Party (CDS-PP) [Christian democratic], and the barely-relevant People's Monarchist Party (PPM) [Monarchist].
ENOUGH! (CH!): Right-wing populists and nationalists. Eurosceptic, hardline anti-immigration. Right-wing to far-right.
Liberal Initiative (IL): Classical liberals and right-libertarians. Centre-right to right-wing.
Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU): Longstanding alliance between the Portuguese Communist Party and the Ecologist Party "The Greens". Communist and Eco-socialist. Hard Eurosceptics. Left-wing to far-left.
Left Bloc (BE): Democratic socialists and left-wing populists. Eurosceptic. Left-wing.
People-Animals-Nature (PAN): Environmentalist, vaguely center-left but often described as being neither left nor right. Supports the current PSD government in Madeira.
FREE (L): Progressive, Green, Pro-EU Liberal socialists. Has advocated for UBI in the past. Center-left to left-wing.

Extraparliamentary Parties:
React, Include, Recycle (RIR): Known for previously being headed by the colorful Tino de Rans, this party is environmentalist, humanist, and Pro-EU. Similarly to PAN it's not considered to be on the left or right.
Portuguese Communist Worker's Party/Re-Organized Movement of the Party of the Proletariat (PCTP/MRPP): Maoist party that was active in the years leading up to the Carnation Revolution but has completely flopped since then. In the minor party debate they described the invasion of Ukraine as a "civil war in Ukraine". Far-left.
National Democratic Alternative (ADN): Social conservative, anti-establishment and direct democracy advocates. Had some controversy regarding COVID denialism. Right-wing.
Together for the People (JPP): Previously limited to Madeira, this social liberal and centrist party is trying to become national. Centrist.
Alternative 21 (A21): A coalition of the fiscal conservative Alliance (A) and the green-conservative Earth Party (MPT). Center-right.
Volt Portugal (VP): Volt's Portuguese branch. Social liberal, Eurofederalist, center to center-left.
Rise Up (E): Farther right than CHEGA, the party seems to be pretty nostalgic of the Salazar dictatorship. They had to kick out a bunch of members associated with the neo-nazi Hammerskins, who founded their own party which disbanded in 2019. Far-right.
We, the Citizens! (NC): Social liberal, pro-EU party. Center to center-left.
Portuguese Labor Party (PTP): Democratic socialist and Social democratic party which has found little success. Their current leader apparently stripped naked in the Madeira parliament and also unfurled a nazi flag there to make some sort of point. What it was, I have no idea. Center-left.
New Right (ND): National conservatives looking to take over the place CDS-PP had. Right-wing.


I think I'll let this go until the end of the month.

[Farmlands]

I'll be voting for IL, as are my mother and sister. A stable government after the election would be nice, but with the votes scattered as they are, I think it will be tough forming a solid majority. Especially if the right needs Chega or the left needs a coalition 2.0, both possible outcomes. Wish us luck.

[jaichind]

Chega

[America Needs R'hllor]

Easily PS.

[Mike88]

Democratic Alliance, but not very excited about it.

Portuguese Labor Party (PTP): Democratic socialist and Social democratic party which has found little success. Their current leader apparently stripped naked in the Madeira parliament and also unfurled a nazi flag there to make some sort of point. What it was, I have no idea. Center-left.

He showed the nazi flag to accuse the PSD-Madeira of being nazi-fascists. He strip naked in the regional parliament also to accuse the PSD-Madeira of persecuting him and of "controlling" the Justice system in the islands after a ruling seized his salary. In another episode, he also showed the flag of ISIS, during a ceremony in Madeira with President Marcelo present, to acuse Prosecutors of being "camouflaged jihadists".

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Usually favor PS, but this time around I think I'm going to punish them for the scandals by voting for BE instead, to hurt PS but avoid harming the overall left.

[VPH]

Democratic Alliance, but not very excited about it.

Portuguese Labor Party (PTP): Democratic socialist and Social democratic party which has found little success. Their current leader apparently stripped naked in the Madeira parliament and also unfurled a nazi flag there to make some sort of point. What it was, I have no idea. Center-left.

He showed the nazi flag to accuse the PSD-Madeira of being nazi-fascists. He strip naked in the regional parliament also to accuse the PSD-Madeira of persecuting him and of "controlling" the Justice system in the islands after a ruling seized his salary. In another episode, he also showed the flag of ISIS, during a ceremony in Madeira with President Marcelo present, to acuse Prosecutors of being "camouflaged jihadists".

I would usually pick PS by default and I think they've done a decent job on the economy. But in part due to their corruption I'll be casting a protest vote for Nova Direita. For one, I can't stand that the Portuguese politicians on the left largely want to implement euthanasia and expand abortion (which I strongly oppose) while banning national traditions like bullfighting. ND is one of the only parties seriously talking about the demographic crisis, fixing Portugal's broken immigration system, supporting nuclear energy, and restoring some measure of economic sovereignty to the country. And while I disagree with her on certain issues, Ossanda Líber avoids Ventura's demagogy.

On Coelho, he also claimed "asylum" on an island called the "Principality of Pontinha" which some random dude claims is a micronation. It is no such thing but that didn't stop Coelho from showing up and making a goofy video.

[Goldwater]

I'm going with IL.

[Mike88]

I would usually pick PS by default and I think they've done a decent job on the economy. But in part due to their corruption I'll be casting a protest vote for Nova Direita. For one, I can't stand that the Portuguese politicians on the left largely want to implement euthanasia and expand abortion (which I strongly oppose) while banning national traditions like bullfighting. ND is one of the only parties seriously talking about the demographic crisis, fixing Portugal's broken immigration system, supporting nuclear energy, and restoring some measure of economic sovereignty to the country. And while I disagree with her on certain issues, Ossanda Líber avoids Ventura's demagogy.  

The PS does not defend banning bullfighting, because if they ever do this they would say "goodbye" to their strongholds in upper Alentejo/Lezíria do Tejo and the PSD would say "hello". The thing about the "decent job" of the PS on the economy is interesting. Note of caution, I'm biased as I never liked Costa, but one thing is certain, the economic growth of the last 9 years has been supported by tourism and real-estate valuation. Ironically, these two sectors are the reasons for the wage stagnation, the cost-of-living crisis, at some extend the housing crisis and adding to this, the public services crisis. Costa focused all his policies on fiscal consolidation and balance budgets, which, don't get me wrong, are a very important thing, but, if you don't offset this with an economic and public spending strategy, you will end up, yes, with a lot of money but everything around you just falling apart, and ending up having to spend much more to fix things. There's a reason why Pedro Nuno Santos says that he's a "doer" and that's why he represents "change".

On Coelho, he also claimed "asylum" on an island called the "Principality of Pontinha" which some random dude claims is a micronation. It is no such thing but that didn't stop Coelho from showing up and making a goofy video.

Oh, yes, the crazy dude of the rock kingdom. I'm not sure how this thing ended.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

PS is the only real choice.

[VPH]

I would usually pick PS by default and I think they've done a decent job on the economy. But in part due to their corruption I'll be casting a protest vote for Nova Direita. For one, I can't stand that the Portuguese politicians on the left largely want to implement euthanasia and expand abortion (which I strongly oppose) while banning national traditions like bullfighting. ND is one of the only parties seriously talking about the demographic crisis, fixing Portugal's broken immigration system, supporting nuclear energy, and restoring some measure of economic sovereignty to the country. And while I disagree with her on certain issues, Ossanda Líber avoids Ventura's demagogy.  

The PS does not defend banning bullfighting, because if they ever do this they would say "goodbye" to their strongholds in upper Alentejo/Lezíria do Tejo and the PSD would say "hello". The thing about the "decent job" of the PS on the economy is interesting. Note of caution, I'm biased as I never liked Costa, but one thing is certain, the economic growth of the last 9 years has been supported by tourism and real-estate valuation. Ironically, these two sectors are the reasons for the wage stagnation, the cost-of-living crisis, at some extend the housing crisis and adding to this, the public services crisis. Costa focused all his policies on fiscal consolidation and balance budgets, which, don't get me wrong, are a very important thing, but, if you don't offset this with an economic and public spending strategy, you will end up, yes, with a lot of money but everything around you just falling apart, and ending up having to spend much more to fix things. There's a reason why Pedro Nuno Santos says that he's a "doer" and that's why he represents "change".
Oh, yes, the crazy dude of the rock kingdom. I'm not sure how this thing ended.

I liked at least under the Geringonça they raised the minimum wage and reversed many of the cuts from the PSD/CDS government era. Agreed with you though that a better balance must be struck between tourism money and affordability because it's currently out of control. Ending the Golden Visa program made sense.

As for bullfighting, IIRC a good number of PS MPs voted against bullfighting on various occasions. And I know BE, who would have a role in a PS minority government especially with PNS, want to ban it. I would care less if it wasn't being discussed alongside legalizing euthanasia; it's the irony there that makes me angry, along with PS' general support for euthanasia and abortion.

And while Portugal needs some immigration, I've come to think that PS is naive on the issue and not cognizant that that immigration should both serve the national interest and be tailored especially for Lusophone immigrants from places like Angola.

[Mike88]

I would usually pick PS by default and I think they've done a decent job on the economy. But in part due to their corruption I'll be casting a protest vote for Nova Direita. For one, I can't stand that the Portuguese politicians on the left largely want to implement euthanasia and expand abortion (which I strongly oppose) while banning national traditions like bullfighting. ND is one of the only parties seriously talking about the demographic crisis, fixing Portugal's broken immigration system, supporting nuclear energy, and restoring some measure of economic sovereignty to the country. And while I disagree with her on certain issues, Ossanda Líber avoids Ventura's demagogy.  

The PS does not defend banning bullfighting, because if they ever do this they would say "goodbye" to their strongholds in upper Alentejo/Lezíria do Tejo and the PSD would say "hello". The thing about the "decent job" of the PS on the economy is interesting. Note of caution, I'm biased as I never liked Costa, but one thing is certain, the economic growth of the last 9 years has been supported by tourism and real-estate valuation. Ironically, these two sectors are the reasons for the wage stagnation, the cost-of-living crisis, at some extend the housing crisis and adding to this, the public services crisis. Costa focused all his policies on fiscal consolidation and balance budgets, which, don't get me wrong, are a very important thing, but, if you don't offset this with an economic and public spending strategy, you will end up, yes, with a lot of money but everything around you just falling apart, and ending up having to spend much more to fix things. There's a reason why Pedro Nuno Santos says that he's a "doer" and that's why he represents "change".
Oh, yes, the crazy dude of the rock kingdom. I'm not sure how this thing ended.

I liked at least under the Geringonça they raised the minimum wage and reversed many of the cuts from the PSD/CDS government era. Agreed with you though that a better balance must be struck between tourism money and affordability because it's currently out of control. Ending the Golden Visa program made sense.

As for bullfighting, IIRC a good number of PS MPs voted against bullfighting on various occasions. And I know BE, who would have a role in a PS minority government especially with PNS, want to ban it. I would care less if it wasn't being discussed alongside legalizing euthanasia; it's the irony there that makes me angry, along with PS' general support for euthanasia and abortion.

And while Portugal needs some immigration, I've come to think that PS is naive on the issue and not cognizant that that immigration should both serve the national interest and be tailored especially for Lusophone immigrants from places like Angola.

The minimum wage increase is a positive thing, but has a "dark side" as it's not making average wages grow and in fact, if when Costa arrived at power in 2015, the NMW was around 60% of the average wage, now it's near 75%. The dependency of the Portuguese economy in low wages is a deep structural problem. The thing about Golden Visas and the "explosion" in housing prices and so on, is that they were very helpful for Costa when he needed to show good economic numbers during the Geringonça years (2015-19) to fight the "gloom forecasts" from the Opposition. But, because he only used this to collect tax revenue and "show off" GDP figures, when Covid and the War in Ukraine arrived, it revealed all the cracks of this whole strategy.

Regarding immigration, what I find infuriating in the government's policies is that they want more people to come to Portugal, something I 100% support as we need immigrants because of our demographic winter, but the current law has so many holes in it, that many people who just want a better life, fall victims of human traffic mafias and end up in near slavery conditions. Not to mention that, because of the slow public services, many remain illegal for ages without any kind of labour and/or social security protection.

[Dr. MB]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

FREE / Enough! swing voter.

[Mike88]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

PCP is an Orthodox Communist Party, still stuck on the workers/bourgeoisie split and with positions still reminiscent of the Soviet Union, like you said, old-school/hardline, with a considerable elderly base. Adding to this, it has very close connections with unions. BE is much more "liberal" than the PCP, with a lot of focus on gender, equality, minority rights issues, and much more younger and urban. However, both converge in economic issues, with strong support of nationalizations and anti-capitalism.

[VPH]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

PCP is an Orthodox Communist Party, still stuck on the workers/bourgeoisie split and with positions still reminiscent of the Soviet Union, like you said, old-school/hardline, with a considerable elderly base. Adding to this, it has very close connections with unions. BE is much more "liberal" than the PCP, with a lot of focus on gender, equality, minority rights issues, and much more younger and urban. However, both converge in economic issues, with strong support of nationalizations and anti-capitalism.

Notably, PCP is also more euroskeptic and supportive of Russia, Venezuela, and even North Korea

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

PCP is an Orthodox Communist Party, still stuck on the workers/bourgeoisie split and with positions still reminiscent of the Soviet Union, like you said, old-school/hardline, with a considerable elderly base. Adding to this, it has very close connections with unions. BE is much more "liberal" than the PCP, with a lot of focus on gender, equality, minority rights issues, and much more younger and urban. However, both converge in economic issues, with strong support of nationalizations and anti-capitalism.

Notably, PCP is also more euroskeptic and supportive of Russia, Venezuela, and even North Korea

I assume most of their online supporters are extremely insufferable, then?

[The '90s' Last Champion]

FREE / Enough! swing voter.

This doesn't really make much sense. Relations between the two parties and not good and it's hard to find much overlap between far right nationalists and green flavored social democrats.

On the topic of the thread, I voted for AD.

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

FREE / Enough! swing voter.

This doesn't really make much sense. Relations between the two parties and not good and it's hard to find much overlap between far right nationalists and green flavored social democrats.

On the topic of the thread, I voted for AD.

I have a liberal social policy and I think the best way to defend that is not flooding the country with homophobes.

[VPH]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

PCP is an Orthodox Communist Party, still stuck on the workers/bourgeoisie split and with positions still reminiscent of the Soviet Union, like you said, old-school/hardline, with a considerable elderly base. Adding to this, it has very close connections with unions. BE is much more "liberal" than the PCP, with a lot of focus on gender, equality, minority rights issues, and much more younger and urban. However, both converge in economic issues, with strong support of nationalizations and anti-capitalism.

Notably, PCP is also more euroskeptic and supportive of Russia, Venezuela, and even North Korea

I assume most of their online supporters are extremely insufferable, then?

Most of their supporters are too old to be big social media users LOL

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

Left bloc or CDU. Mike88 can you give a better summary of the nuances between them? I get the impression the Communist party is more old-school/hardline doctrinaire and the Left Bloc is a little bit less rigid in terms of organization and policy.

PCP is an Orthodox Communist Party, still stuck on the workers/bourgeoisie split and with positions still reminiscent of the Soviet Union, like you said, old-school/hardline, with a considerable elderly base. Adding to this, it has very close connections with unions. BE is much more "liberal" than the PCP, with a lot of focus on gender, equality, minority rights issues, and much more younger and urban. However, both converge in economic issues, with strong support of nationalizations and anti-capitalism.

Notably, PCP is also more euroskeptic and supportive of Russia, Venezuela, and even North Korea

I assume most of their online supporters are extremely insufferable, then?

Most of their supporters are too old to be big social media users LOL

I assumed as such, but surely there's a couple hardcore online tankies that support them (but never vote because voting is useless or something like that)

[Sir Mohamed]

PS

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

Please never translate the name of CHEGA again.

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

Please never translate the name of CHEGA again.

Did I do something wrong? I kept it in all caps since the name was in all caps.

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

Ftr I voted livre in this poll