Pending the allocation of the four seats designated by voters in constituencies abroad, Antonio Costa’s Socialist Party obtained an absolute majority in this election with 41.68% of the vote and an absolute majority of at least 117 deputies out of a total of 230.
Following this result, described as “historic” by the local press, Mr. Costa will have a free hand to manage the consultations and form a socialist government to continue his policy of reforms and the fight against the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, which some have described as a success.
Indeed, voters have reaffirmed their confidence in Mr Costa, who came to power in late 2015, and taught a lesson to his former allies who were behind the call for early elections by rejecting the 2022 budget proposal last October.
For Mr Costa, the results of the legislative elections held on Sunday, giving an absolute majority to the socialists, constitute a victory for “humility and stability”.
“This is the victory of humility, of confidence and for stability,” he told his supporters after the results were announced.
“An absolute majority is not absolute power, (…) it is increased responsibility,” he insisted, assuring that the results are a “clear sign that the Portuguese want the PS to govern and that they want peace in their lives.”
“I hope everyone understands that,” he said.
After the announcement of the results, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will begin consultations on Tuesday with a view to forming a new government.
Under the provisions stipulated in the Constitution, the head of state will begin by consulting the eight parties represented in Parliament in the afternoon, before receiving Mr Costa on Wednesday.
Mr Rebelo de Sousa will then be able to officially reappoint him as Prime Minister and invite him to form his new executive.
According to Mr Costa’s office, the formation of the government would not be known until the last week of February, after the publication of the results of the vote and the entry into office of the new Assembly.
In this election, the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD, right) of Rui Rio, came in second with 29.3% of the vote.
The far-right party Chega (Enough) has, for its part, been propelled to the rank of third force in the country, with 7.15% of the votes and 12 elected representatives, while it only had one deputy in the outgoing Parliament.
The Liberals, who entered Parliament in 2019 with just one MP, also confirmed the strong progress predicted by the polls, with almost 5% of the vote and eight elected representatives.
2024-08-26 12:43:36