LISBON – Portugal’s main opposition Socialists have proposed initiating negotiations in “good faith” with the center-right minority government on next year’s budget bill, aiming to avoid further political instability, according to a party spokesman.
The new government has faced several setbacks over the past three months, as the Socialists allied with the far-right Chega to block some fiscal proposals, raising doubts about the budget’s approval, which would be the administration’s first significant survival test.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has criticized this negative coalition of opposing political forces for attempting to paralyze government activity and force another election in a country that has already had two early elections in the past two years.
In an unexpected move, Socialist Party (PS) spokesman Marcos Perestrelo announced that during a Monday meeting, the party’s Political Committee instructed General Secretary Pedro Nuno Santos to negotiate with the government.
“The PS is available to establish a constructive dialogue regarding the budget, with the aim of creating conditions of stability because the country needs it,” Perestrelo stated.
He emphasized the Socialist Party’s “firm and true desire” to develop a good budget, while noting that the government must also demonstrate “flexibility and the will to negotiate conditions” acceptable to the Socialists.
Both the PS and the government agree on the necessity to “keep the budget balanced, with debt reduction” and to implement policies supporting families. “Ideally, negotiations should begin as soon as possible,” Perestrelo added.