Portugal's president calls early election for Jan. 30

By Senhan Bolelli

LISBON, Portugal (AA) - Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday called an early election for Jan. 30 following parliament’s dissolution.

A government crisis that developed last week after the rejection of its 2022 budget bill in parliament led to the decision to hold snap polls.

The bill was submitted by the minority left government run by the Socialist Party (PS).

"I listened to all parties and the Council of State. I analyzed the economic and social situation in the country. At the end of all this, I dissolved the parliament and decided to hold early elections on Jan. 30," Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement.

He asserted that the best way to present an alternative to the budget crisis is to go to the polls.

Some political parties argued that the date of the elections should be brought forward in order to immediately manage the resources from the EU recovery fund.

According to the Portuguese constitution, elections must be held within the following 60 days of parliament’s dissolution.

Portugal’s Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who formed a minority government after elections held in October 2019, has been serving as prime minister for six years. He was re-elected on Oct. 6, 2019.

The Communist Party and Left Bloc (BE), which are external supporters of a minority government run by the PS, did not support the budget on the grounds that their promises of increases in the minimum wage and pensions, fighting against poverty and reducing the value added tax (VAT) on electricity bills were not realized.

Opinion polls show the ruling Socialist Party to be the top favorite to win the elections, but it is not certain if it will be able to form a majority government.