This will be the third general election in just three years.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Thursday the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of early legislative elections for May 18, two days after the ouster of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro . This will be the third general election in just three years.
In a TV address, the president justified the decision as a measure to guarantee the country's stability and stated that the chosen date “was preferred by the majority of parties”.
Last Tuesday, the majority of the Portuguese Parliament voted against the motion of confidence presented by the government of Luís Montenegro, an instrument used to measure whether the government has parliamentary support.
The prime minister's position became untenable after it emerged that his company, Spinumviva, receives monthly payments for consulting and data protection services. The opposition pointed to a conflict of interest.
— I have not committed any crime. Those who owe nothing have nothing to fear and I have a clear conscience — declared Montenegro.
Cornered and faced with the opening of a CPI, proposed by the PS, Montenegro preferred to present a motion of confidence knowing that he would not be able to approve it. A year after coming to power, he will be a candidate again, but under the distrust of voters.
— The (premier's) objective is to go to elections to avoid the CPI — said Pedro Nuno Santos, general secretary of the PS.
Spinumviva, a family business in Montenegro, was founded by him, who is said to have acquired all the clients. But he passed the company on to his two sons, who are now his partners, after the scandal came to light. The company receives around €9,000 per month for consulting and data protection services.
One example is Solverde, which owns a casino and a hotel and pays €4,500 per month to Spinumviva, accounting for 30% of its total revenue. João Rui Ferreira, Secretary of State for the Economy, is a relative of the owners of Solverde, a company based in Espinho, Montenegro.
In parliament, Montenegro faced two censure motions in 12 days. Two days after the first, he took part in a golf tournament with Solverde owner Manuel Violas.