President Marcelo is starting to meet Portugal’s political parties today over the PS government’s plans for next year’s State Budget. Today, he is due to hear the thoughts of PAN, BE, PCP, IL and CHEGA, and on Wednesday he will be sitting down with the country’s two ‘main parties’, PSD social democrats and the PS (currently in absolute majority). This is the first time the country’s head of State has called parties to Belém Palace since mid-July, when he wanted to sound out feelings on the economic, social and political situation ahead of a Council of State. The final reading of the budget bill is scheduled for November 29. All parties in opposition have either voted against, or abstained.
