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.
I wonder if the majority of Portuguese people are aware that “far-right” = “less rights”.
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.
The original article contains 739 words, the summary contains 250 words. Saved 66%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Why should we Europeans allow people who shit on our values and way of life to live among us?
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.
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
Socialism would be better for the future of Europe.
