By Catarina Demony and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal will head to the polls on Jan. 30 for a snap election called by the country s president on Thursday, a week after parliament threw out the minority Socialist government s 2022 budget bill, ending six years of relative political stability. In moments like this there is always a solution in democracy, without drama or fears . to give the word back to the people, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in a televised address. It is the only way to allow the Portuguese . to decide what they want for the coming years. The Socialists former left-wing allies, the Left Bloc and the Communists, rejected the budget along with all right-wing parties. Rebelo de Sousa said the rejection left the ruling party alone . The Socialist Party, which ascended to power in 2015 and achieved solid economic growth after four years of tough austerity measures under an international bailout, has been able to pass laws under an arrangement with th
Most Portuguese appear resigned that a snap general election expected to be announced by the president on Thursday, even if necessary, will only perpetuate political deadlock, bringing more hardship.
By Catarina Demony and Andrei Khalip LISBON (Reuters) - Most Portuguese appear resigned that a snap general election expected to be announced by the president on Thursday, even if necessary, will only perpetuate political deadlock, bringing more hardship. An opinion poll by Aximage pollsters showed that 54% of 803 people surveyed thought an early election would be bad for the country , with 68% believing that no party would win a majority of parliament seats. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa s consultative body, the Council of State, on Wednesday approved his proposal to dissolve parliament after lawmakers rejected the government s 2022 budget bill last week, paving the way for a snap election. He is due to address the nation at 8 p.m. (2000 GMT) The budget impasse effectively ended six years of relative political stability under the minority Socialist government. More or less, we were pretty stable, especially given the pandemic situation, Lisbon pensioner Leonel Pereira, 66, told Re
LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal will head to the polls on Jan. 30 for a snap election called by the country's president on Thursday, a week after parliament threw out the minority Socialist government's 2022 budget bill, ending six years of relative political stability.