It took an average of 85 days to resolve the four previous political crises that led to early elections in the past two decades, but 124 days will pass between the announcement of António Costa’s resignation and the next parliamentary elections.
In other words, this will be the longest political crisis of this century, with more than four months between its beginning – the announcement of the Prime Minister’s resignation on Tuesday, November 7 – and its outcome in the elections, the election of early parliamentary elections on March 10, the date announced today by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In the past twenty years, the longest political crisis that had an electoral solution was that of two years ago, since there were 95 days between the passage of the state budget on October 27, 2021 and the snap elections of January 30, 2022.
Two years ago, there was no talk of dismissal from the government, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa formalized the dissolution decree of the Assembly of the Republic only on December 5 (he made the announcement a month earlier), so that parliament could approve some matters. diplomas (which would expire if the term of office was interrupted).
Previously, the longest period of political deadlock was in 2001/2002, starting on December 16, 2001, with the announcement of António Guterres’ resignation on the night of the local elections, and the legislative elections 91 days later in March. It was also the only one in which there was a change of political leadership (in the PS), as will happen in the coming months.
The shortest political crisis occurred in 2011, when then Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates presented his resignation to Head of State Cavaco Silva on March 23 and elections took place on June 5, 74 days later, at a time when the country had already requested external help.
In 2004, between the announcement of the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic by then President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio, on November 30, and the elections on February 20, 2005, 82 days passed.
On that occasion, Jorge Sampaio informed the then Prime Minister, Pedro Santana Lopes, that he would dissolve Parliament on November 30, but he did not sign the dissolution decree until December 22, to allow the Assembly of the Republic to approve the State Budget. for 2005.
In 2001, Guterres announced his resignation on December 16 and the President of the Republic spoke to the country to announce the call for elections on March 17, only signing the dissolution decree on January 17.
During this period the PS elected its new Secretary General, with Ferro Rodrigues winning the elections on January 19, 2002 and being inaugurated into a Convention on the 26th of the same month, with the Socialists ending the selection process of deputies on January 30. .
The Prime Minister, António Costa, asked the President of the Republic to resign on Tuesday, who accepted.
António Costa is the target of an investigation by the Public Prosecution Service at the Supreme Court after suspects in a case related to matters surrounding lithium, green hydrogen and the Sines ‘data centre’ invoked his name for intervening to unblock proceedings .
On the day of his dismissal, António Costa refused to commit “any illegal or offensive act” and expressed his full willingness to cooperate with justice.
Source: DN
