Portugal's government ousted by no-confidence vote
The conservative minority government in Portugal has collapsed after a motion of confidence put forward by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro failed to secure the required majority. New elections are now likely to be held in May. Montenegro is accused of conflicts of interest in connection with a consultancy firm owned by his family. Commentators offer different perspectives on the crisis.
Unnecessary crisis in uncertain times
Observador laments that the two mainstream parties, the conservatives and the socialists, have been unable to find a common solution:
“We will have elections at a time when the Trump administration is destroying the Western post-war order, when the countries of the European Union will most likely have to start dismantling their welfare state to strengthen their defence capabilities and when the trade war hitting us from the other side of the Atlantic could plunge us into recession. And all because power has become an end in itself, rather than a means to improve the lives of citizens, and because the two main parties are unable to agree on issues that are fundamental to the Portuguese.”
Time for a PM with a clean record
El País believes fresh elections are the best option:
“Although the collapse of the government was predictable, the crisis that provoked it came as a surprise and had nothing to do with governance. The cause was the prime minister's failure to distance himself completely from his previous business activities, exacerbated by his erratic attitude when the scandal came to light. ... In addition, the public prosecutors' office has announced that it is examining three charges against Montenegro in connection with the case. In addition to good governance, a state authority is required to have immaculate institutional ethics. And although no one wanted another election, it's better to go back to the polls than to continue with a prime minister who is under suspicion.”