Effective stability with a sense of accountability

The Council of Ministers approved, in writing and via the Government’s IT network, the Vote of Confidence to be submitted by the Government to Parliament.

The text notes that "the Government has achieved political stability, fostered social stability, and consolidated the economic and financial stability that enabled Portugal to begin a virtuous path focusing on solving people’s problems and transforming the country".

Of this "true positive transformation of the country" undertaken by the Government, we note:

• Improving public administration careers, rising pensions, and lowering taxes

• Unemployment is at historical low, and employment at a historical high

• The economy is growing way above the EU average and the fiscal balance is in solid surplus

• Public debt and net foreign debt strongly lowered, recovering the Republic’s rating to a level of solidity that had long been gone

• Taking decisions on infrastructure and mobility, namely the new Lisbon airport, high-speed rail, the new bridge over the Tagus, and the green rail card

• 59,000 new public dwellings under construction

• Immigration has been controlled and regularised with rigour and humanely.

• Proximity policing enforced and violent crimes countered, namely domestic violence

• The Healthcare Emergency and Transformation Programme is under way, and public schooling is being reformed and modernised

• The "Accelerating the Economy" Programme is under wat, and public and private investment are on the rise.

The Vote of Confidence also mentions that the Prime Minister "offered the necessary clarification" to the "doubts" arising as to his professional life and estate and took "suitable measures to prevent any potential conflict of interest".

Although "no unlawfulness was indicated", the opposition "persisted in fostering a climate of mistrust".

Since "Government depends on Parliament", there can be no doubt as to the Government’s conditions to carry out its Programme "of truly and positively transforming the country".

The Prime Minister asked the parties to declare whether the Government can carry out the Programme approved by the Portuguese people in the 2024 elections.

The answers, namely from the largest opposition party, "do not allow for the political clarification the country requires", reflecting "the willingness to deepen an artificial climate of weariness and uninterrupted mistrust of the Government".

Although the allegations are unfounded and the Government’s responses clear, "we are in an endless spiral where any explanation is readily twisted in order to arise new doubt", in a "destructive attitude that brings nothing of use" to the Portuguese.

Portugal’s major challenges, namely those posed by the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the new US foreign and trade policy, "require political clarification".

"It is time for each one to be held accountable", the text also stresses.