As expected, the PCP communist-led motion of censure against the government failed in Parliament this afternoon (May 30).
Presented after the PSD’s dismal performance in last weekend’s European elections – billed as “the worst defeat for the right wing in Portugal since 1975” – the motion called for early elections on the basis that the PSD was no longer ‘legitimate’.
Communist leader Jerónimo de Sousa declared that the “clamorous defeat” represented a “powerful manifestation of the will of the Portuguese public” to interrupt the government’s “disastrous path”.
But although Socialist leader António José Seguro had himself admitted on Sunday that the dreadful European election results showed “this government has come to an end”, he distanced himself from the motion – not even bothering to turn up for the debate.
Other high level party members were also absent as PM Passos Coelho explained he knew his party had done badly but things had to be “put into context”.
The PSD were “not complaining”, he told the house – and they were certainly not giving up.
The Socialists’ reluctance to acknowledge this sixth motion of censure of the government since it came into power in 2011 is seen as political manoeuvring, considering that Passos Coelho only recently let slip that if his party didn’t get a clear majority in the next elections (in 2015), it might well consider a coalition with the PS.
