Portugal's Council of State accepts president's proposal to dissolve parliament

By Senhan Bolelli

LISBON, Portugal (AA) - Portugal’s Council of State, chaired by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, decided Wednesday to dissolve parliament after lawmakers rejected the government's 2022 budget bill.

In a statement, the president's office said most of the members of the consultative body approved the president's proposal for parliament’s dissolution.

President De Sousa is expected to announce a date for early elections immediately after consultations with the leaders of the main political parties.

The 2022 budget bill, which was submitted by the minority left government, was rejected by parliament past week.

Snap elections are expected to take place in January, according to local media.

The Socialist Party (PS) which ruled the country with a minority government with external support from the Communist Party and Left Bloc (BE), 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.

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.

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.