Centre-right Luís Montenegro nominated as Portugal’s prime minister

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Portugal is about to witness its first centre-right prime minister in over eight years as Luís Montenegro assumes the position. However, his government is likely to be vulnerable as he rejected a potential far-right ally.

Montenegro became the leader of the Democratic Alliance (AD) after winning an election this month. Recently, the President of Portugal nominated Montenegro to take over António Costa's position as Socialist leader. Costa stepped down from his role due to a corruption scandal. This nomination occurred during the early hours of Thursday.

Montenegro's decision not to form a ruling agreement with the far-right Chega party, which has established itself as the third most influential force in Portuguese politics, has hindered the AD from gaining a majority in parliament, which includes 230 members, with only 80 seats currently secured.

Chega and the Socialists, who usually oppose the centre-right, have stated that they won't prevent Montenegro from coming into power, but will be prepared to challenge his proposals. Therefore, Montenegro, who labels Chega as prejudiced and intolerant, will have to engage in demanding discussions with various political groups to pass any laws.

This week, André Ventura, the leader of the political party Chega, made a statement. He stated that if Montenegro's party does not make an agreement with his party, they will be to blame for any instability caused. Chega won 50 seats in the election.

The AD is not as extreme as most conservative parties in Europe, but it has promised to depart from the centre-left leadership of nearly ten years by lowering taxes and improving support for businesses.

Montenegro, who is 51 years old and works as a lawyer in Porto, has recently taken over as president of the Social Democratic party. This party is the main member of AD, and he has been involved with it for more than 20 years during his time as a member of parliament. He has a very relatable and down-to-earth personality, making him an approachable figure for many.

Montenegro has been selected by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to engage in a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday. Following this, Montenegro's government is expected to be officially established in the early part of April after the initial parliament session, set to take place next week.

Montenegro's biggest challenge in 2021 may be to pass the vote for the 2025 budget. If the government fails to do so, it may lose its power and influence. However, his opponents might not want to risk initiating yet another election.

Pedro Nuno Santos, who was in charge of the Socialists' campaign but unfortunately lost the election, has pledged to create a "powerful opposition." He has also stated that it would be "nearly out of the question" for him to back a budget from the AD party.

However, there is some good news for Montenegro. It has been announced that the Socialists, who hold 78 seats, will support minor changes to the already-approved 2024 budget. This will allow for an increase in salaries for police officers, educators, and healthcare professionals.

Montenegro emerged victorious in an election that saw the electorate express their dissatisfaction with corruption, meager salaries, and skyrocketing housing expenses. Furthermore, individuals also exhibited negative feelings towards certain immigrants and the governmental system, which was fueled by the Chega movement.

During the campaign, Montenegro declared that the Socialists had not been efficient in using the parliamentary majority they obtained back in 2022 and denied the notion that the center-left political group had put an end to the period of financial hardship. Montenegro argued how the government's strategy of imposing high taxes while providing insufficient public amenities is arguably even more austere.

Just before the president made the announcement on Wednesday, Montenegro tried to change the way people saw his soon-to-be minority government. He claimed that the AD had "mostly" won, even if they didn't win completely.

Former Prime Minister Costa stepped down from his position which he held since 2015, due to being under scrutiny from prosecutors for possible corruption and influence peddling concerning significant investment projects. Although he hasn't been accused officially and maintains his innocence, the investigation from prosecutors continues.

More information has been gathered by Sérgio Aníbal in Lisbon and Carmen Muela in Madrid.