In Lisbon, Portuguese voters are increasingly frustrated with the political elites due to the lack of stability. Portugal's center-right minority government collapsed on Tuesday after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a confidence vote, just 11 months into his tenure.
All parties agree that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must call for a new parliamentary election, the third in as many years, likely to take place in mid-May. Fernando Ferrao, a 69-year-old pensioner, desires "a new vision different from the one we have seen for 40 or 50 years" from the political elites.
According to Andre Azevedo Alves, a professor of political science at the Catholic University of Portugal, the upcoming election is expected to yield "an inconclusive result, probably very similar to the current parliamentary makeup," potentially leading to continued political instability.
Despite opinion polls showing the center-left Socialists holding a slight lead, the Democratic Alliance (AD) led by Montenegro remains a close contender at around 30%, indicating minimal change from the previous year's election. While the political right holds a majority in parliament, the AD has ruled out forming alliances with the far-right Chega party.
Azevedo Alves noted that voters are "fed up with repeated elections and the political class's inability to establish stable governments," expressing concerns that the public's frustration could lead to higher abstention rates in the next election.
Speaking on the government's collapse and the ensuing snap election, 53-year-old Lisbon resident Paulo Goncalves expressed concern, highlighting the potential negative impact on the country's progress. Montenegro initiated the confidence vote following opposition criticism of his consultancy firm's dealings, currently managed by his sons, refuting any accusations of ethical misconduct or malpractice.