Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro appreciated the announcement by Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos. Pedro proposed that PS Members of Parliament (MPs) abstain from the upcoming vote on the 2025 State Budget. This announcement was made shortly before a crucial vote which will help the government avoid a political crisis.
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PS Importance To Abstain From 2025 State Budget Vote
Montenegro praised the Socialist’s sense of responsibility speaking from Brussels after a long European Council meeting.
PS is the main opposition party and they have made their decision to help avoid a political crisis. There were fears that if the Socialists voted against the budget then the country will face uncertainty. Montenegro’s government has been trying to gather enough support to pass the budget.
The PS’s decision to abstain is seen as a positive step to keep the country stable. It will prevent the need for early elections.
The announcement of Pedro Nuno Santos for the PS to abstain will be discussed by the political commission of the party on Monday. It is expected that the party will support his proposal. It is unlikely that PS MPs will go against their leader. The party is trying to show itself as a responsible opposition. Voting against the budget can harm that image.
If the PS absent from the budget vote then the government of Montenegro is expected to hold onto power for a minimum of one more year.
It is within the authority of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to dissolve the parliament and conduct early elections. The Constitution prohibits him from acting in this manner at this stage in his administration as his tenure comes to a close
Montenegro’s Response To The PS Abstention
Montenegro made it clear that he sees the PS’s decision as a positive step while speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels.
He said.
From a democratic point of view, I welcome the sense of responsibility and the prevalence of the national interest that the PS is expressing by enabling this important instrument that can contribute to the implementation of the government’s programme
The prime minister also highlighted the efforts his government had made to address the concerns of the opposition.
Montenegro said:
We have made a very significant effort to get closer to the PS’s essential concerns in preparing the draft budget
He added that his coalition had shown “humility” in recognizing that it does not have a parliamentary majority. This statement shows the delicate situation in Portugal’s parliament where no party has full control.
Montenegro expressed hope that the PS will respect the will of the people and avoid adding to the country’s uncertainty. He emphasized that the government is focused on keeping the country stable and preventing any further political crisis.
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Political Crisis In Portugal
The upcoming vote on the 2025 State Budget is not just about government finances. It is about the survival of the present government. No party holds a majority in a parliament and the opposition’s stance on the budget can make or break the government.
If the budget fails Montenegro’s government will be forced to resign. This will lead to a period of political instability. Socialist Party allows the government to stay in power without directly supporting it.
This is a common political tactic in Portugal. Minority governments often rely on opposition parties to abstain in key votes. The government can avoid a crisis through this without needing full support from the opposition.
The PS has made it clear that while it will abstain this time but it can vote against future budgets. This means Montenegro’s government will have to continue working hard to secure support in the coming months.
