Portuguese parties want fresh elections as soon as possible

Nobody wanted early elections, but if they were to be held, they should occur as soon as possible. Today, the President of the Portuguese Republic listened to the parties with parliamentary seats in Belém to gather all the information necessary to determine the best solution to the current political impasse.

Luís Montenegro was the first to be received. The Prime Minister advocated for the swift holding of elections alongside the President of the Republic, emphasising that they "must occur promptly." He acknowledged that the "country is facing a challenging situation" and, while adding that "although this is not an ideal scenario," he assured that the country would not endure any "disruption in its operations," particularly regarding the implementation of the RRP.

The PSD National Council met on Wednesday evening to analyse the political situation.

Pedro Nuno Santos followed. The leader of the largest opposition party said that, despite not being the desirable scenario, holding elections "is the only way we have to clarify the political situation in Portugal" and that the electoral act should be seen as an "opportunity to unblock the political crisis we are in and start a new phase of political life in Portugal" with "confidence in the government and the prime minister".

The third-most significant political force in parliament also defended the holding of elections and is confident that the President of the Republic also understands this.

"I am also convinced that this Thursday, we will have an announcement of the dissolution of Parliament and the scheduling of elections for 11 May. I think this - at 99 per cent - is what will happen", said André Ventura after he met with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The Chega leader says the