Campaign leaders deliberated on potential post-vote situations on the second day of the election campaign.
In the wake of the dramatic events on RTP, political leaders graced our airwaves once more, engaging in a heated radio debate that centered around potent issues such as political stability and governability.
Luis Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos, respectively representing the PSD/CDS-PP alliance and the PS, proposed a useful vote, each advocating for their respective parties' interests. Meanwhile, Rui Tavares voiced concerns over a potential "constitutional majority" on the right, while André Ventura kept his cards close, leaving the door open for the possibility of supporting a new minority government led by Montenegro.
The afternoon saw Pedro Nuno Santos socializing at a lunch hosted by the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal in Lisbon. Francisco Calheiros, the organization's president, opined that a right-wing victory in the elections could potentially topple the government, but there'd be a right-wing majority nonetheless. Santos viewed this prospect not as a favor, but as a sign of respect for "the country and the Portuguese," and for a party that, when in opposition, provided these conditions for governability to the AD.
Montenegro went on to reassure farmers from the Oeste region in Cadaval that he'd loosen bureaucratic rules and make the sector more self-sustaining, gradually reducing the trade deficit. Yet, he emphasized that this would be accomplished without any protectionism and with an agreement negotiated with Mercosul.
The ensuing day of the AD campaign was marked by the endorsement of former President of the Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva. In an opinion article published in The Observer, he defended Montenegro, referring to a supposed "campaign of suspicions and insinuations" waged by the opposition, primarily centered around a probe into the Prime Minister's private life.
In addition to Cavaco, the PSD revealed plans to gather almost all former leaders of the party, including Passos Coelho, Marques Mendes, and Rui Rio, at the national headquarters on Tuesday. This move was met with criticism from the leader of Chega, who expressed his determination to move forward, rather than dwell on the party's past.
"We are not here with history. We don't want to be with history. We want to look to the future. I don't want to give Portugal a past, that Portugal already has," André Ventura proclaimed at the start of a rally in Santarém.
Still, in Lisbon, Rui Tavares from the IL emphasized the general bitterness among the right-wing political parties. He warned that, should these parties seize power, the country would experience "great instability." The IL leader also weighed in on post-election scenarios, remarking that the campaign was not the time to "decide alliances" but to discuss proposals.
Addressing the youth in the capital, he pledged that his party would transform the country but "without magical solutions," stressing that change would be a gradual process.
Simultaneously, national coordinator of the BE, Mariana Mortágua, accused the right of being a threat to public education in Lisbon while warning about "dangerous projects" like the one from IL, which aimed to reduce the number of administrative staff.
The CDU (Democratic Unity Coalition - PCP and Ecologist Party "The Greens") returned to the campaign trail in Couço, where Paulo Raimundo praised the courage of the town's residents during the dictatorship and reminded everyone that "the struggle is not over yet."
In Porto, Inês Sousa Real, the spokesperson for PAN, criticized the PS and PSD for stalling the approval of paid parental leave for six months. She guaranteed that, if elected, she would prioritize the implementation of this policy in the next legislature.
The corruption scandal engulfing the government and the political instability it has brought about have shaken the nation, leading to snap elections on May 18, 2025. The upcoming election will determine the course the country will take and how it will address the pressing concerns of its citizens.
- In the radio debate, Luis Montenegro from PSD/CDS-PP and Pedro Nuno Santos from PS discussed policy-and-legislation, particularly focusing on political stability and governability.
- Rui Tavares, representing the IL, expressed concerns about a potential "constitutional majority" on the right, implying potential instability for the country.
3.meanwhile, André Ventura, who is part of the Chega, kept his support for a Montenegro-led minority government open, implying potential support from a minority group.
- Pedro Nuno Santos, while at the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal's lunch in Lisbon, acknowledged the potential political implications of a right-wing victory but framed it as a sign of respect for the country and the Portuguese people.
