A new poll published today in Expresso – under the damning headline: “Government with negative evaluation in everything” – shows that “more than half the Portuguese are dissatisfied with the performance of the government”.
That such a poll is even needed is perhaps a question. But Expresso appears also to answer this point, with a side story suggesting the poll’s results indicate that “the Portuguese want the government to negotiate with both the largest parties in opposition, or just with PS Socialists – rejecting the idea of negotiations only with CHEGA.
In other words, this poll seems to be connected with ongoing ‘political wranglings’ over nominations to certain institutional bodies – not least the Constitutional Court. Expresso gives a four-page spread to the tussle going on behind the scenes as Socialists are adamant that they should be ‘favoured’ by the government over CHEGA, as they consider themselves ‘better focused’ on the needs of the country.
But back to the results of the poll (which will be more interesting for foreign residents): the government is not doing well. As Expresso says, “almost a year since the legislative elections, the Portuguese are disheartened by the state of the country.
“In sectors like housing, the combat of corruption and taxation, the percentage of those questioned who said they are dissatisfied rounded out at 90%.
“60% of those questioned by ICS-ULisboa (the institute of social sciences of Lisbon University) and ISCTE (the university institute of Lisbon) think that Portugal is on the wrong path.
“Questioned in concrete on the economic situation of the country, 50% said they thought it had become worse under the new government; 37% said it has remained the same”, writes SIC Notícias today, which commissioned the poll along with Expresso.
One ‘positive’ emerging appears to be that 35% of those queried believe the prime minister is doing a “good”, even “very good”, job.
The truth is that this poll was done before people will have started becoming truly aware of the level of economic harm looming as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. It was conducted between February 27 and March 8, among over-18s in a cross section of regions/ ages/ economic groups.
A total of 2,778 eligible households were contacted, with 801 ‘valid interviews’ recorded.
The poll also gave leaders personal evaluations: the winner being the prime minister, with a 5.2 out of 10, followed by PS leader José Luís Carneiro with 5. CHEGA leader André Ventura came in with just 3.9, behind LIVRE’s Rui Tavares, who scored 4.2, and Iniciativa Liberal’s Mariana Leitão, who scored 4.1.
Source material: SIC Notícias
