Portuguese go to polls in snap election amid COVID, uncertainty
Al JazeeraMAY 2022
Poll: Socialists' Lead Grows in Portugal Ahead of March Election
Image copyright: Horacio Villalobos/Corbis News via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Democracy will be on the ballot on March 10, as the only way to prevent Portugal from losing its hard-fought political stability and becoming hostage to the far right is to elect a socialist government. This unnecessary snap election, which was surprisingly called given the President of the Republic understood that the parliamentary majority had no right to propose a new prime minister, represents a huge risk to the nation's democracy.
Right narrative
The Socialists have now caused major political turmoil in Portugal for a third time, and current behavior amounts to fear-mongering over a potential coalition between the center-right alliance and Chega. Even if conservatives come to win the popular vote and fail to form a majority in parliament, there's no possibility of joining forces with Chega.
Establishment-critical narrative
Voters across Europe are fed up with the globalist establishment and are telling their leaders that enough is enough. This is why Chega is soaring to unforeseen heights despite the elite on both sides of the political aisle smearing Chega as “extreme.” As many are now ready to stand up for their sovereignty and against Portugal's corrupt two-party political establishment, Chega is capable of achieving a unprecedented victory in March.