Portugal: the new head of government will have to face a serious social crisis

2024-04-02T11:32:17.828Z

Highlights: In Portugal, the new government led by the head of the Social Democratic Party, Luis Montenegro, takes office on April 2. He only has a very relative majority in the assembly, with 80 deputies where he needs 115. Montenegro knows that he will have to find support on his right, or even negotiate with the socialists in opposition on certain issues. The head of government, centrist and moderate, has ruled out the idea of getting closer to the far-right Chega party which now has a parliamentary group of 50 deputies.

In Portugal, the new government led by the head of the Social Democratic Party, Luis Montenegro, takes office on April 2. He only has a very relative majority in the assembly, with…

Portugal: the new head of government will have to face a serious social crisis

In Portugal, the new government led by the head of the Social Democratic Party, Luis Montenegro, takes office on April 2. He only has a very relative majority in the assembly, with 80 deputies where he needs 115. The new head of the Portuguese government will have to face a serious social crisis.

Luis Montenegro narrowly won the legislative elections of March 10, 2024. REUTERS - Pedro Nunes

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Lisbon,

Marie-Line Darcy

Luís Montenegro knows that he will have to find support on his right, or even negotiate with the socialists in opposition on certain issues which cannot be managed by decree. The head of government, centrist and moderate, has ruled out the idea of getting closer to the far-right Chega party which now has a parliamentary group of 50 deputies.

Read alsoLegislative elections in Portugal: the breakthrough of the far right “is a protest vote against the elites”

While waiting for the trial by fire in the fall, with the state finance bill, Montenegro will have to deal with and manage the burning issue of the public service in the short term. Health, education and law enforcement in Portugal are calling for an increase in careers and salaries.

And after a sort of electoral truce, teachers, police and health workers could quickly return to the streets. Luís Montenegro, candidate, promised to act quickly. Montenegro head of government can also count on

the budget surplus of more than 3 billion euros left by the socialists

. Other major projects include the housing crisis which is worsening and weighing down the social climate.

Finally, two big, controversial issues are on the table: the location of the future new Lisbon airport and the privatization of TAP, the national airline.

Read alsoLegislative elections in Portugal: the center right wins the elections, the far right on the rise

Portugal: the new head of government will have to face a serious social crisis

Portugal: the new head of government will have to face a serious social crisis

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