2023-11-09 15:55:35
© Reuters. Man observes newspapers in Lisbon 11/8/2023 REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
LISBON (Reuters) – Almost 70% of Portuguese voters want early elections following the abrupt resignation of the country’s socialist prime minister, according to a survey released on Thursday, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to announce his decision on the most pressing issue. afternoon.
António Costa resigned from his position on Tuesday after prosecutors detained his chief of staff in an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government’s running of lucrative lithium and hydrogen projects.
Prosecutors said Costa is also the target of a related investigation. He denied any wrongdoing.
It is up to the president to decide whether to allow the Socialist Party (PS), which has a parliamentary majority, to form a new or interim government, or whether to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
His office said he will address the country after meeting with its advisory body, the State Council. The meeting starts at 12 pm, Brasília time.
A survey carried out by Intercampus for the newspapers Jornal de Negócios and Correio da Manhã showed that 67.8% of voters prefer an early election, while 25.7% want the PS to choose a new prime minister and form a government.
Analysts also consider an election to be the most likely option, although Rebelo de Sousa may choose to give the PS more time so that next year’s budget, already approved by Parliament in first reading, is completed.
João Duque, dean of the Lisbon School of Economics and Administration, said the president will likely take into account Europe’s volatile economic situation and allow parliamentarians to vote on the budget bill, scheduled for November 29.
Separately, those detained in the investigation, including Costa’s close friend and consultant Diogo Lacerda Machado, were due to appear in a Lisbon court this Thursday. They are suspected of crimes of corruption and influence peddling, according to prosecutors.
(By Catarina Demony, Patricia Rua, Sergio Goncalves)
#Portuguese #early #elections #survey #shows #Reuters