Will be backing motion of confidence on Tuesday
With the wider opposition seemingly relishing the fact that voters are being faced with the third legislative election in three years, Iniciativa Liberal – the country’s ‘4th political force’ – has called out what it sees as the “inexcusable irresponsibility” at play, insisting it will be backing the government’s motion of confidence on Tuesday.
As so many have said already, IL points out that “in this national and international context, with challenging changes for Portugal and Europe”, the prospect of a new march to the polls is “seriously distracting” from “pressing problems that need to be resolved” – quite apart from being yet another considerable expense for the state.
IL’s position, however, can do nothing to ‘save the government from falling’ if PS Socialists and the other parties in opposition reject the motion of confidence, as they say they will.
The liberal party has been at pains to see this crisis resolved differently from the outset – saying it only wasn’t because the prime minister refused to give the clarifications demanded of him. And in spite of its anathema of the current position, the party says it is ready to face a new election “in the certainty that a vote for the Liberal Initiative constitutes a vote for the stability, responsibility and maturity of institutions and politics in Portugal”.
By voting for the motion of confidence on Tuesday, IL trusts that everyday voters will see that the party considers “defence of the superior interests of the Portuguese people, who want and deserve to move forward with their lives” much more important that the “low politics, putting party and personal interests” first that are being displayed by other parties.
“Effective stability, with a sense of responsibility”
The motion of confidence up for debate next week is entitled “Effective stability, with a sense of responsibility”, and argues that the “country needs political clarification” in view of doubts raised regarding the prime minister’s financial and professional life, stressing that “it is time for everyone to assume their responsibilities”.
The prime minister has also said that he believes the majority of the population is “satisfied with the path of transformation that the government has embarked on in the last 11 months” – and thus is ready for what is, in the end, an enormous gamble.
