Costa’s knockout – CNN Portugal
Opinion article by CNN Portugal commentator Rui Calafate
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The absolute majority that happened yesterday and to which I was the only one to open this hypothesis on Friday in the broadcast of CNN Portugal has an easy explanation and several subtheses. The Portuguese punished the partners in the contraption who would not allow the approval of the State Budget. The Portuguese and the useful vote in PCP to face the pandemic, the strong command of the country, the BE appeal BE Appeal:
In what I wrote for the CNN Portugal website, I wrote for the CNN Portugal website, and I wrote for the website in a debate we didn’t win, which counts a narrow victory, a victory not won, a poll with one or two points of advantage not won , or two points advantage doesn’t win, what counts is people’s vote. I have stated several times on CNN that I don’t have much confidence in my 25-year career in communication in political journalism and electoral dynamics. The first official week of the campaign went well for the PSD and the PS adapted to a needle, ending the request for an absolute majority and in a logic of negotiation capacity with all parties (with the exception of enough) to the quality I called “ cod with everyone”.
Also on CNN he created another soundbyte that he came to confirm. He said that the PS had taken the Lisbon vaccine. That is, António Costa understood very well that Fernando Medina lost Lisbon because an idea was created (the result of polls and debates) that would easily win. And so the left demobilized and abstained, giving Carlos Moedas an unexpected victory. Now, the PS didn’t make it easy and the weapon of the useful vote against the right. And the strategy won.
But beyond being relevant or devastating for Costa, we cannot ignore Rui Rio’s resounding defeat, one of the biggest ever, especially since a prime minister with 6 years of experience and some wear and tear occurred. The appeal of the useful vote to the right corrected, as the jokes were not conceived by anyone and Zé Albino was ridiculous. Rio is not a charismatic man, he was shy to talk about change and his bet on “Portugal ao Centro” was a “flop” because the moderate center did not leave the arms of António Costa and the PSD forgot the right that kissed the hand of Enough and Liberal Initiative, two big winners also from last night.
The PSD will enter a new dispute for leadership and Carlos Moedas is the man everyone will look to. The problem is that he was elected in Lisbon 100 days ago. It would be bad for the capital for the new president to leave and to be seated in two chairs – in São Caetano and in Praça do Município – does not seem plausible for a party that has to be reorganized.
Twelve deputies for André Ventura are an exceptional result and, being the third political force, we will have to pay attention to it. In a short time, being the third political force in the entire national territory is a task and cannot be underestimated, however, it will be up to the power and the new parliamentary group to present concrete proposals and reinforcement with the best cadres to aspire to grow.
The Liberal Initiative is now a very strong urban party, made up of professionals and many young people. It is a sure seed that, in addition to basing or party, can make it grow, even taking advantage of the drought of news and connection to civil society of the PSD. Don’t leave a strong point to my friends Rodrigo Saraiva and Manuel Soares de Oliveira who dreamed of this project from the beginning and to congratulate a magnificent leader, well prepared, who was well received throughout the campaign, João Cotrim de Figueiredo.
A word to Rui Tavares, who finally manages to be elected, he also campaigned well and deserved to be in Parliament, even to erase the tragicomedy of Joacine, which pinched Livre’s image. In the rest, we will surely have a change in leadership. BE, as I predicted on CNN, would be the party most penalized by the useful vote in the PS and it was. Catarina Martins will have to give way to the current greatest asset of the Bloco, Mariana Mortágua. In the PCP it was the last fight of the generous and great man who is Jerónimo de Sousa, who will probably give way to João Ferreira.
PAN PAN was almost extinct, in the ambiguity that it was extinct, sousa Real, who almost didn’t engage in his problems. And I leave for the end my regret that the CDS, a founding party of Portuguese democracy, lost its parliamentary representation. Everyone is to blame, Francisco Rodrigues dos Santos too, it was a one-man campaign, there was a fight with a man but it didn’t arrive. This is no surprise, but I’m sorry.
The absolute majority gives the PS four years of peace and it will be up to the opposition and the media to do their job. Portugal gets a lot of money from the EU, it’s time for reforms and the business fabric english to modernize. Portugal cannot protect this opportunity. Let’s hope all goes well.
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