“We’re not interested in political game playing”
Portugal’s new prime minister, Luís Montenegro, has laid down a challenge to his considerable opposition.
The incoming minority centre-right government means to get things done. It does not intend to be toppled at the first post. It seeks to improve life on all levels for the Portuguese, and for that to happen, it needs dialogue with adults.
“We’re not interested in semantic games or sterile politicking. If this government, as I hope and know is the wish of the Portuguese, is sworn in and assumes its full powers, it will immediately begin to programme and implement structural reforms that will change the country,” he said.
“Parliamentary investiture, in these circumstances, can only mean that the opposition will respect the principle of letting us work and implement the government programme.”
“It’s not a question of adherence to that programme, but rather of whether there is a block on its implementation”.
Luís Montenegro referred to the fact that PS Socialists have held power for 22 of the last 28 years. As he went on outlining how much has to be done to address deep-seated problems in the country, it didn’t take a genius to work out how many years have been lost.
The incoming government’s programme – the one that won it these elections, however marginally – comes under discussion next Thursday April 11 and Friday April 12. It has to ‘be approved’ in order for the government to take ‘full office’. A rejection (which could so easily come if left wing, far left and far right vote together) would leave the country ‘hanging’, unable to move forwards.
PCP communists have already announced their intention to table a motion to reject government’s programme. Lusa news agency suggests this is unlikely to be approved “as the PS has indicated that it will not support this or any other initiative to prevent the government from taking office”.
We can but wait.
As for this evening’s ceremony, President Marcelo did not have any ‘ominous messages’ (as he did in the last investiture). He conceded that this incoming executive has a difficult mission, but “not an impossible one”.
It really will depend on dialogue, and good sense. Good sense from all sides, that is – which is also ‘the problem’: this evening’s ceremony, for instance, was boycotted by all the leaders of left wing parties which did not show any great level of political elegance.
For now, tomorrow will see the first Council of Ministers, while Luís Montenegro concluded his inaugural speech laying down a challenge to all parties to come up with proposals for combating corruption. “No one has a monopoly on the best solutions”, he said: the AD plan is to “have a synthesis of proposals, measures and initiatives within two months that can be agreed and consensualised, once their consistency, credibility and feasibility have been duly tested”.
