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On 10 March, the citizens of Portugal will be called upon to elect a new parliament in an early election. This became necessary after the Socialists around Prime Minister António Costa, who have ruled with an absolute majority since the last early Parliamentary Elections (2022), came under suspicion of corruption. In connection with the awarding of lithium mining licenses and the production of green hydrogen, the Prime Minister himself was initially targeted by the investigating authorities, but subsequently mainly the Minister of Economy who bears a similar name. Following the resignation of the Prime Minister in November, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dissolved parliament and called new elections for March 2024. According to current opinion polls, these could be decided in a neck-and-neck race between the ruling Socialists (PS) and the opposition Conservatives (PSD), who are running in an electoral alliance with two smaller parties. Both parties currently have around 30 per cent of the vote and are hoping to become the strongest political force in the country. Behind the two major parties, the far-right Chega party could achieve by far the strongest result in its history. After 7.2 per cent of the vote in the last general election, the party could more than double its result this year. The other parties (Liberals, Left Bloc and Greens), on the other hand, are clearly in the single-digit range and will at best play a role as majority procurers. Which constellation will ultimately win a majority in the 230-seat Assembly of the Republic will become clear in the days and weeks following election Sunday.
Who are the winners and who are the losers of the Parliamentary Elections 2024? What majorities are possible and likely as things stand? Has the opposition succeeded in creating a mood for change in the country? What could the domestic and European policy priorities of a new government look like?
The event „The Morning After – Portugal has voted” will take place on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 from 09:30-10:15 CET via Zoom. We look forward to discussing the election result with our colleague Dr. Ludger Gruber, Director of the KAS Office for Spain and Portugal. After the conversation between Dr. Gruber and Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Director of the European Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the audience will have the opportunity to contribute their questions to the discussion. The event will be held in German with simultaneous interpretation into English.
We look forward to your participation! Please register under this link (click).
Download the agenda: Programme 24-03-12 Portugal has voted.pdf