The political landscape in Portugal has taken a dramatic turn as Prime Minister Luís Montenegro faces the aftermath of a confidence vote defeat. The vote, which took place after mounting pressure over Montenegro's business dealings, resulted in a decisive 142 to 88 vote against him, dismantling his right-of-centre minority government. This development comes as Portugal braces for upcoming elections in May.
Spinumviva, a company established by Luís Montenegro, has found itself at the center of controversy. Before becoming the Social Democratic Party (PSD) president and the leader of the opposition in 2022, Montenegro secured sizeable sums for Spinumviva from various clients. Upon assuming his political role, he transferred ownership of the company to his wife and two sons. Notably, Spinumviva receives €4,500 (£3,800) monthly from the hotels and casino group Solverde, whose gambling concession is currently under review.
Luís Montenegro has clarified that Spinumviva offers consultancy services related to data privacy laws. Given that his wife is a childminder, one son is still a student, and the other has just graduated, the firm outsources its work to external experts. However, concerns have arisen regarding Spinumviva's operations, prompting the Bar Association to investigate whether it is unlawfully providing services reserved for licensed lawyers.
The confidence vote was initiated by the government itself following the opposition Socialists' announcement of plans to conduct a parliamentary inquiry into Montenegro's business activities. The opposition Socialists, led by Pedro Nuno Santos, a former minister under António Costa, have been vocal critics of Montenegro's dealings. The outcome of the vote signals a significant setback for Montenegro's administration.
Amidst the political upheaval, Chega, a far-right party and the third-largest in parliament, sees an opportunity to renew its campaign against corruption in politics. Despite facing its own scandals—three of its MPs are under criminal investigation, with one charged with theft at Lisbon airport—Chega is poised to capitalize on the current political climate.
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