Less than a minute after the end of the statement in which Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the dissolution of parliament and the holding of early elections on March 10 next year, Luís Montenegro responded at the PSD’s national headquarters.

The Social Democratic leader said that “it is urgent to restore the credibility of the institutions,” after what he called “the third political quagmire” left by the PS.

By guaranteeing that the PSD will go to the elections “with ambition”, it also promises that it will target people with ideological blindness, and “without leaving anyone behind”. “It is with our eyes focused on the future that we will present ourselves,” he said, expressing hope that a “new government” will emerge that will solve the problems.

Montenegro also admitted that it would propose an amended state budget if elected.

Comes “with the aim of winning the elections”

André Ventura assumed that Chega would hold early elections “with the aim of winning”, but lamented the “somewhat bizarre scenario” in which the Assembly of the Republic would debate a state budget that will have to be “rectified” after the vote.

“Our commitment is not only to repeal the ruinous deals that need to be revoked, but also that the OE is not defined by this left-wing majority, but by a new right-wing majority. [do próximo ano] it will absolutely be occupied by the OE,” he emphasized, promising a government with “more friendship for families and businesses, and a lower tax burden.”

IL defended the elections before March 10

The leader of the Liberal Initiative, Rui Rocha, wanted the elections to take place before March 10, because this “is a bad budget” that does not serve the interests of the country, and because “we will now have four months in which the first- The minister’s credibility has been damaged.”

“Now we know the date when, I hope, the socialist book will be closed in Portugal for a long time,” he stressed, defending a “huge gamble on the country’s economic growth” based on lower taxes.

BE says dissolution was “the only solution”.

For the Left Bloc, the dissolution of parliament was “the only solution”. “In democracy, problems are solved with elections,” said the leader of the bloc parliamentary group, Pedro Filipe Soares. “From our side there are solutions for housing, public services, for what a dignified life requires,” he assured.

Pedro Filipe Soares says that BE “respects” Marcelo’s decision to postpone the dissolution until after the approval of the 2024 State Budget (OE), but insists that this “does not change the quality” of the document the bloc voted against. “This is a bad budget. It is so bad that it is now even embraced by right-wing parties,” he said.

PCP wanted elections earlier

The PCP reiterated that it prefers the elections to be held earlier because the state budget “does not respond to the country’s problems”, but ensures that the party will present proposed changes to improve the document.

“There is no justification for delaying the approval of an OE that does not respond to the problems of the Portuguese, in terms of salaries, pensions and housing,” criticizes deputy Paula Santos.

“A break is needed with policies that favor large economic groups, followed by the PS and accompanied by the PSD, IL and Chega,” added the leader of the communist bank, calling for a vote to “remove the PCP and the CDU to strengthen” for an alternative “patriotic and left-wing” politics.

Livre speaks about ‘regime crisis’

Livre’s sole deputy, Rui Tavares, said the “last few days” have been “too bad” for democracy and that it is not just a political crisis but a “regime crisis”.

“To save democracy, full citizenship is needed,” he said, calling for the ongoing judicial processes to be “rigorous” and “transparent.”

PAN calls for OE2024 outside the “absolute majority bubble”

The PAN praised the decision of the President of the Republic to allow the approval of the state budget before the early parliamentary elections, and asks the PS to allow OE2024 to leave the “absolute majority bubble”.

“It is not a PAN budget, but it could be an AR budget, which the PS understands, perhaps for the first time, leaving the bubble of the absolute majority,” declared Inês Sousa Real, who called for a reduction of the VAT on food. for companion animals for families in need.

Sousa Real also left an appeal to vote: “Join us on March 10 so that there is no abstention. The PAN will be here to run for elections, we are ready for that, and to be a useful political to be strength.”