The second State of the Nation debate, led by Luís Montenegro, is expected to be marked on Thursday by issues pertaining to health and immigration and the way the PSD/CDS-PP government has negotiated the approval of laws in Parliament.
On Tuesday, during the conclusion of the PSD/CDS-PP parliamentary sessions, the Prime Minister argued that the two parties forming the pre-electoral coalition AD are “the central political force” in democracy, more action-oriented than ideological.
“This way, we are more equipped than anyone else to build bridges and achieve convergence with other political spaces, both on our right and left,” he stated, reiterating since his inauguration that the government aims to dialogue with all, without privileged partners.
In its first month, operational since June 18, Montenegro already called leaders of the PS and Chega to São Bento for meetings ahead of the NATO summit and met again with André Ventura at the official residence, upon his request, to discuss IRS and immigration matters.
In the early elections on May 18, which AD won again without an absolute majority, Chega became the second-largest parliamentary force with 60 deputies, and PS was third with 58.
PS or Chega? Whom does the government negotiate with?
On Wednesday, PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro challenged Montenegro to choose with whom to negotiate and warned that socialists should not be equated with Chega, risking a break between the two parties.
“PS must never be equated with a party that undermines democratic values and if the prime minister cannot distinguish such political and social representation, then he is not fit to define and defend the national interest,” he declared after the PS National Political Commission meeting.
After approving a new IRS reduction with Chega, IL, and PAN votes, the government managed to pass changes in the foreigner law thanks to Chega’s favorable vote, with socialists opposing, and André Ventura already claims a preliminary agreement with the executive regarding the nationality law to be voted in September.
In the health sector, Ventura challenged the Prime Minister to present a sector plan during the State of the Nation debate, while José Luís Carneiro sent Luís Montenegro a proposal to create a coordination unit for hospital emergencies. The Prime Minister has promised to “stand up” for the government’s policy in this area on Thursday, but contended that, despite occasional negative cases, there have been improvements compared to a year ago.
“The country must also acknowledge that the SNS mostly responds well,” he asserted.
Demolitions in Loures
The demolition operations of shacks and illegal dwellings by the municipalities of Loures and Amadora and the opening of an inquiry by the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) about the disclosure of minors’ names by Chega might also enter parliamentary discussion.
What will the debate be like?
The last political debate before the summer, lasting approximately four hours, will begin with the Prime Minister’s intervention, which can last up to 40 minutes and will also be closed by the government.
This will be followed by parties’ clarification requests, starting with Chega, then PSD, PS, IL, Livre, PCP, CDS-PP, BE, PAN, and JPP.
The first State of the Nation debate with Luís Montenegro as Prime Minister took place exactly a year ago, with Pedro Nuno Santos leading the PS, a discussion dominated by the possibility of early elections and the still uncertain State Budget voting for 2025.
A year ago, Montenegro opened the debate accusing PS and Chega of being “two sides of the same coin” of political irresponsibility, stating that only a motion of censure would topple the executive.
The Budget would eventually be approved with PS abstaining, the two censure motions presented by Chega and PCP were rejected, but Montenegro’s first government would fall on March 11 this year, following the rejection of a confidence motion he presented to Parliament during the political crisis surrounding a family business of the Prime Minister, Spinumviva, now transferred to his children.
