Multiple corruption scandals fuel support for populist Chega party led by André Ventura
Portugal’s two-week general election campaign has officially begun with centre-right and centre-left parties leading in the polls, but a far-right populist forecast to collect almost a fifth of the vote is a further sign of Europe’s nativist drift.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Portugal’s two-week general election campaign has officially begun with centre-right and centre-left parties leading in the polls, but a far-right populist forecast to collect almost a fifth of the vote is a further sign of Europe’s nativist drift.
However, with the Socialists favourites to win the most votes but combined rightwing parties expected to end up with more seats in parliament, many observers’ eyes were on Ventura – who has long said he will he will not back a rightist coalition unless he is formally a part of it.
Unlike in several EU member states from Finland to Italy, the far right has so far failed to make much impact in Portugal, which in April celebrates half a century since its 1974 Carnation Revolution ended almost as many years of authoritarian rule.
But the early 10 March election, called after the surprise resignation of Socialist prime minister, António Costa, is being held in the shadow of multiple corruption scandals that have fuelled voter disenchantment and favour the far right, analysts say.
In recent weeks, a Lisbon court has also ruled that a former Socialist prime minister, José Sócrates, should stand trial over allegations that he pocketed about €34m (£29m) during his time in power from graft, fraud and money laundering.
A housing crisis, persistent low pay levels and unreliable public health services are other areas where the records of the two main parties – which polls suggest are neck-and-neck on 28% and 29% of the vote – are being challenged.
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Recent polls show almost 20% of votes to this far right party, which is very scary to me. Roughly one fifth of parliament members would subscribe to this platform. By the way, they aren’t focusing on this topic as much recently but when they rose to power their platform focused essentially on “solving” the gypsy problem in Portugal.
Last Friday there as a debate between all major parties and to my surprise, it went very well for this guy. He is usually very disrespectful during debates, constantly interrupting others, and is also prone to saying bullshit and his opponent wiping the floor with him. But on Friday the representatives of the two biggest political parties, the ruling party (PS, the socialist party) and especially the main opposition (PSD, or SPD in the linked article, the social democratic party) made fools of themselves and all Ventura (far right) had to do was stay quiet and interject at key points. It makes sense since both parties are wrapped up in controversy right now. I still disagreed with his message but I foresee people him getting many votes from those who were uncertain about whether they’d vote for him or for the social democratic party.
Also, not mentioned in the article, last Tuesday there was a debate between parties without parliamentary seats and it was shocking how many far right parties are popping up (there were always some far left parties). With some saying things like “the carnation revolution (where Portugal overthrew its dictatorship) was the biggest treason in the history for this country”…
Just to clarify, the one that said that is actually one of the oldest far right parties in the country, not one of those that just popped up.
That’s true, sorry, I wrote everything in a rush and didn’t separate the two issues. He in fact started that debate saying “for anyone out of the loop, we changed names but we’re actually that other party”
Why should we Europeans allow people who shit on our values and way of life to live among us?
Shutting every complaint down with ‘racist’, ‘fascist’, ‘nazi’ etc. is why far right parties are rising. It is time to stop acting like middle schoolers and allow people to voice concerns and have debate, lest they vote far right as the only alternative. Nobody wants that.
Mate, far right parties, especially in Portugal want anything but debate. Their whole message is to pollute discussion and make the extremes normal.
A lot of people vote for them as protest but also a lot of people like their racist, fascist rethoric and goals. This is not a “them poor misunderstood far right parties”.
Fortunately no party is collaborating with them so their biggest impact is making sure that a right government can’t really govern.
That being said, every party has their blame in this by not solving problems or improving people’s lives as much as they should have. Another way to fight this is by having proper alternatives that people believe in but that’s easier said than done.
Far-right wouldn’t win. Poland just PiSsed off the PiS party. At least TVP is airing anti-PiS stuff unlike under the previous government, which TVP was a mouthpiece.
We’re talking about Portugal here, not Poland. But yes they won’t win. It’s still problematic
I agree
We should not tolerate fascism.
Why is it fascist to want to live among people who respect my culture, values, and traditions. All things which these immigrants have proven they do not. How many schoolteachers need to be decapitated? How many more people should get humiliation robbed? How many more girls should become prey to grooming gangs?
Kick them out.
Im saying we should not tolerate fascism because those people do not respect our culture, values and traditions. So I definitely agree that we should kick them out.
I wonder if the majority of Portuguese people are aware that “far-right” = “less rights”.
