Portugal facing new elections after the prime minister loses the vote of trust

The government of Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has lost a vote of confidence by bringing the country to his third general election in just three years.

The deputies voted against him with 142 to 88 without abstaining, overthrowing the minority government to the right of the center.

While Portugal President, Marcelo Rebello de Susa, is not obliged to open the meeting, he made it clear that he would do so if the government lost a vote on Tuesday, with new elections, probably in May.

The proposal for confidence was submitted by the government itself after the opposition socialists announced plans for a parliamentary investigation into Montenegro’s business deals.

A company called Spinumviva, created by Luís Montenegro, continued to receive significant sums from customers he had previously provided, even after he was elected president and leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and transferred his wife’s property and two sons.

The legality of his wife’s transfer was called into question by the opposition, given that the marriage is the one in which the assets are held jointly; Since then, the couple has made the owners of their sons.

But there are questions about the company’s income sources – which until a few days ago include 4500 euros (3,800 British pounds) per month from hotels and Casino Group Solverde, whose gambling concession is scheduled for review – as well as for the identity of other clients that the Prime Minister has refused to disclose, and the services that Spinumviva has offered.

The Prime Minister, a trained lawyer, says that the company provides consulting services related to data confidentiality laws, outsourcing of the work of external experts – given that his wife is a child, one son, a student, and the other new graduate.

The attorneys’ Association is now considering whether the company illegally offers services that only lawyers can offer.

In recent days, Montenegro’s cabinet has approved a battery of costs and other measures, what is considered as an offer to show that it is working hard for the country.

The situation may seem that it offers ideal conditions for the far -right CAGA, the third largest party in parliament, to renew its attacks on corruption in politics.

The CAGA also benefits from the resignation of Montenegro’s socialist predecessor Antonio Costa, who is now President of the European Council. His name appeared in a criminal investigation into government treaties, although he was never suspected.

But in recent weeks, he has been hit by scandals, with three of his deputies accused of crimes, including one accused of stealing suitcases at Lisbon Airport.

Until recently, Louis Cherno Coalition.

Now, however, they are lagging behind the socialists led by Pedro Nuno Santos, who serves as a minister with Antonio Costa.

None of the main parties seem to be lit in the click election – not least, because they are afraid that voters will not be enthusiastic about having to elect a new government when the current one has been in service for a year – and the weather is bad in geopolitical terms.

Portugal, however, appears on the immediate way for elections in May.

Not only the Prime Minister has chosen to turn to the voters, not to face an investigation, a position described as “fearful” by the opposition leader.

But Pedro Nuno Santos has long promised not to vote in favor of any proposal to trust the government.