Europe continues to slide to the right as Portuguese voters rejected socialist rule on Sunday, cementing the populist-nationalist Chega party as the country’s main political force and potentially a coalition partner for the next government. There is.
As corruption scandals hit the highest levels of the socialist government, Antonio Costa’s own chief of staff and other government ministers arrested The party suffered a crushing defeat in the weekend’s elections, although corruption allegations forced the prime minister to announce his resignation and call for early elections.
The so-called center-right Democratic Alliance (AD), which is comprised of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), CDS-People’s Party (CDS-PP), and People’s Monarchist Party (PPM), won the snap election held on Sunday. did. With the support of the ruling Socialist Party (PS) collapsing, it took the lead in terms of seats won.
But the story of the night was the performance of the right-wing populist party Chega, led by Andre Ventura, a 41-year-old former soccer commentator turned anti-immigration agitator.
In the last election, the new party secured only 12 seats in Portugal’s parliament, but according to preliminary counts it now has at least 48 members out of 230 seats, firmly establishing itself as the third party. It means that. -The strongest political party in Japan after the Socialist Party (77 years old) and AD (79 years old). Correio da Magnhão newspaper report.
In his “victory” speech Sunday night, Mr. Ventura said his populist movement, which local media dubbed a “hurricane,” would continue to grow, and that within the next two years, Mr. Chega would fully “win parliamentary elections.” ” I predicted. Their “victory must be heard in Belem,” he said, referring to Belem Palace, the official residence of Portugal’s president.
“This victory belongs to the journalists. I hope the head of the pollster resigns. I salute everyone who has covered this campaign fairly,” he said. Added joke.
Portugal’s Socialist Prime Minister resigns over corruption allegationshttps://t.co/xUJolajQP0
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 7, 2023
The issue now shifts to the establishment of the next government. Mr. Ventura has expressed his desire to form a coalition with centrists, but democratic alliance, Luis Montenegro, pA resident of the Social Democratic Party, AD bloc’s largest member, he said before and after the election that he had no intention of joining forces with Chega, whom he labeled as “Chega”.racist” regarding his strong anti-mass immigration stance.
Mr. Ventura is also a strong critic of Montenegro’s supposedly center-right parties, arguing that their dominance of Portugal’s political landscape after the 1974 Carnation Revolution, which ended the nationalist dictatorship of the Estado Novo government, was It is claimed to be the main cause of rampant corruption in the country. Country.
However, it is unclear whether Montenegro will be able to maintain its refusal to cooperate with Chega. AD and Chega will have enough seats in parliament for a full majority, but will likely have to govern in a minority capacity if Montenegro rejects an alliance with Ventura.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 11: Luis Montenegro, leader of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Democratic Alliance (AD), speaks after the results of the general elections held on March 11, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. Voters in Portugal head to the polls today. If elections are held early, the country could join the shift to the right seen across Europe after eight years of socialist rule. (Photo credit: Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Further complicating matters for centrist parties is the Socialist Party, which is now in opposition. Said He said he would not try to prevent AD from forming a government, but it would not help the party pass legislation.
Therefore, whether or not it forms a coalition government, AD is likely to need support from Chega to pass legislation or risk being forced into fresh elections in the coming months. Dew.
Nevertheless, the populists’ victory in Portugal’s general election on Sunday, following the victory of populist leader Geert Wilders in the Netherlands in November, comes as citizens across the continent head to the polls to decide their composition in June. Inside, it represents the sentiments of voters. of the next European Parliament.
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) predicted in January that right-wing populist parties were expected to make significant gains, largely driven by voter anger over globalist policies on immigration, the environment and the economy. I predict that it will bring results. He was an outright winner in at least nine countries in the 27-nation bloc, and he finished second or third in a further nine, including Portugal.
“A sharp shift to the right”—populist parties predicted to win in nine EU parliamentary elections https://t.co/55dYsysrZw
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 27, 2024
