The government failed the no-confidence vote, the Prime Minister resigned, and Portugal will hold early elections.

On March 13, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced early legislative elections on May 18.

Chính phủ không 'qua ải' bất tín nhiệm, Thủ tướng từ chức, Bồ Đào Nha sẽ tổ chức cuộc bầu cử sớm

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro speaks to the press as he arrives for a meeting of the Council of State at the Belem Palace in Lisbon on March 13. (Source: AFP)

In a televised address, President de Sousa stressed that he wanted to act quickly to avoid prolonged unrest, adding that May 18 was the date preferred by the majority of parties.

This is the third national election in less than three years in the country after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro submitted his resignation on March 11, after his center-right minority government failed to survive a vote of no confidence in Parliament .

The vote was triggered by conflict of interest allegations against the Montenegrin prime minister over his family business. The Montenegrin prime minister founded data protection consultancy Spinumviva in 2021, then transferred ownership to his wife and sons in 2022.

The opposition, led by the center-left Socialist Party (PS), accused the family company of signing a number of contracts with private businesses that benefited the Montenegrin Prime Minister, who denied all allegations and called for a vote of confidence in the government .

Of the 224 MPs who voted, only MPs from three parties, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the People's Party (CDS-PP) and the Liberal Initiative Party, trusted Mr. Montenegro, while the opposition held 128 seats in parliament and was supported by many small parties.

According to the Portuguese Constitution, if the government fails to survive a vote of no confidence, it must resign. Therefore, the current government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro will only operate temporarily and will only deal with essential and urgent matters.

On March 12, President de Sousa met with party leaders and on March 13, he convened a meeting of the Council of State, consisting mainly of political leaders, for consultations before dissolving the National Assembly.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chinh-phu-khong-qua-ai-bat-tin-nhiem-thu-tuong-tu-chuc-bo-dao-nha-se-to-chuc-bau-cu-som-307535.html