Luís Montenegro stands firm, but opening debate distinctly hostile
COMMENT: Opposition MPs and party leaders have been spending the day pouring scorn on the incoming government’s programme, accusing social democrats of being plagiarists, of destroying democracy, of returning Portugal to the days of austerity, of ‘ignoring the autonomous regions’/ domestic violence, and poverty. In short of producing a programme that no-one (on the face of it) approves of.
Bearing in mind that all this hostility will almost certainly ‘end’ with the programme being approved, we have to accept that the reception of the new government by parliament has been specially orchestrated to give members of the opposition their moment in the spotlight, and possibly to prepare onlookers (citizens/ voters) for what is likely to come: months of wrangling and complaining but perhaps most of it for the cameras.
Certainly, the news today that large sections of society have taken to ‘not keeping up with the news’ because it is so underwhelming makes perfect sense. It is underwhelming – but it was heartening to see the prime minister fending off all the slings and arrows, without stooping to the level from which they were coming, yet managing to score some deft points nonetheless.
Enduring the full force of one of CHEGA leader André Ventura’s blistering attacks (this time on the workings of the health system), he responded that yes there is still a long way to go, but instead of criticising it might be fairer to acknowledge that improvements are visible… and he congratulated CHEGA on becoming the country’s second political force, pointing out that the government has also increased its support “and the gap between the first and second political forces has also widened”.
Mr Montenegro’s second AD government is ‘reaching high’ and asking for constructive dialogue. Constructive dialogue was not in the least bit evident evident today, but there is a long way yet to go.
