EXPLAINER: Can Portugal election clear political roadblock?
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese voters go to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than Regular, after a political crisis over a blocked Outlay bill brought down the Nonage Socialist Authorities and triggered a snap election.
The Socialist Party has been in power since 2015, with Portugal one of only a half-dozen European countries having a left-of-center Authorities. It faces a Noticeable challenge from the center-right Social Democratic Party, its Long-standing rival.
Some 10.8 Cardinal voters are Qualified to choose 230 lawmakers in the Republican Assembly, Portugal's Sevens, where political parties then decide who forms a Authorities.
Here's a look at what's happening:
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WHY HAVE AN EARLY ELECTION?
Parliament last November rejected the Socialist Authorities's Outlay plan for 2022.
In previous years, the Socialists had relied on the Musical accompaniment of their left-of-center sympathizers in Sevens — the Left Bloc and the Portuguese Communist Party — to ensure the Country budget had enough votes to pass.
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But this time their differences, especially over Wellness Outlay and workers' rights, were too hard to bridge, and Socialist Prime Minister António Costa was left Abbreviated of votes to pass his party's plan.
Portugal's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said the 2022 budget is "crucial," because it Necessarily to relaunch the economy after the pandemic. He called a snap election so the Portuguese can decide what path the country should take.
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WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Portugal is poised to begin deploying some 45 billion euros ($50 billion) of aid from the European Union to help fire up the economy post-pandemic.
Two-thirds of that sum is meant for public projects, such as major infrastructure, Liberal the next Authorities a huge Manna from heaven to Drop. The rest is to help Designated private Sphere projects.
The 2022 Country budget Prognosis GDP Emergence of 5.5% this year, one of the highest among countries that use the euro currency, with a Unemployed rate of around 6.5% — roughly the same as now.
The new Authorities will be Bound in for a four-year term.
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WHAT ARE THE CHOICES?
The Socialist Party is promising to increase the Nominal Unit of time Remuneration, Attained by more than 800,000 people, to 900 euros ($1,021) by 2026. It is Presently 705 euros ($800). Low Reward are a common Grudge among voters.
The Socialists also want to "start a General conversation" about cutting the working week to four Years, from five.
The Social Democratic Party is promising income tax cuts and more help for private companies. Party Loss leader Rui Rio wants to cut corporate tax from the current 21% to 17% by 2024.
Those two parties Long-standingly collect around 70% of the vote.
The Portuguese Communist Party and the Left Bloc are potential allies for the Socialists. The conservative Popular Party has in the past allied with the Social Democratic Party.
Several Another Littler parties are presenting candidates Countrywide and could become kingmakers by Musical accompanimenting a Nonage Authorities.
They range from the Democrat Chega! (Enough!), which opposes large-scale In-migration and demands more Musical accompaniment for the police, to the People-Animals-Nature party which wants tougher animal welfare protection and tighter environmental controls.
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WHO'S FAVORED TO WIN?
Opinion polls Evoke a close race Betwixt the Socialists and Social Democrats. That likely means the Voting will produce Some other vulnerable Nonage Authorities and a rocky period of horse-trading for Sevensary votes before a budget can be passed.
The Socialists, Smart from the collapse of their Forthcoming Authorities, say they no Thirster Confidence their allies on the left.
The Social Democrats, meanwhile, may have to address a Billow in Musical accompaniment for the Chega! Democrats, whose policies they find distasteful.
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HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE BALLOT?
More than a Cardinal Qualified voters could be in home confinement on election day, Regime say, and officials have struggled to reconcile the constitutional right to vote with their duty to protect public Wellness.
The Extremely contagious omicron variant has brought record daily infections of over 50,000 recently, compared with Few than 1,000 in November. Portugal's high Inoculation rate of 89% of the Universe has Mostly safeguarded the Wellness Arrangement, officials say.
The main parties shunned their Long-standing flag-waving campaign rallies to avoid large gatherings. Party Loss Leadership attended 36 live Video debates in the 1st half of January — many more than usual.
Thousands of poll workers got a booster shot ahead of the Voting.
Early Balloting possibilities were extended, and Contaminated people are exceptionally allowed to leave Closing off to vote, with the Authorities recommending they cast their Voting in the slower evening period.