Devendra Kumar
As Portugal’s campaign period unfolds, the centre-left Socialist Party and centre-right Social Democratic Party are poised to collect the most votes, but their grip on the country’s political terrain has been weakened by corruption scandals. The Socialist Party’s chief of staff was arrested and the reputation of the prime minister’s office was tarnished by a corruption investigation that led to a police search of the prime minister’s official residence. Meanwhile, a former Socialist prime minister, Jose Socrates, is set to stand trial for corruption, accused of pocketing around 34 million euros during his time in power.
The Social Democratic Party has also faced corruption allegations, including a recent investigation in Portugal’s Madeira Islands that led to the resignation of two prominent party officials. The party’s anti-corruption billboard in Lisbon stated, “It can’t go on like this,” but both main parties are being criticized for their handling of issues such as a housing crisis, persistent levels of low pay, and unreliable public health services.
The two main parties have traditionally dominated Portuguese politics, but the rise of populist parties could change the electoral terrain. One such party is Chega!, a five-year-old populist and nationalist party led by 41-year-old lawyer Andre Ventura. Ventura has made the fight against corruption one of his party’s key issues and has ridden a wave of popularity in recent elections. Chega! got just 1.3% of votes in the 2019 election, but jumped to 7.3% in 2022 and could collect more than double that this time.
The outcome of the election is uncertain, with the Social Democrats potentially needing to form an alliance with Chega! to secure a parliamentary majority, or the Socialists forging alliances with smaller left-wing parties to take power. As the nation prepares to head to the polls, it remains to be seen whether the traditional parties will continue to dominate or if a new force will emerge to challenge their grip on power. The election is seen as a critical moment in Portuguese politics, with the country’s growing discontent with corruption and the rise of populist parties set to reshape the political terrain.