There's another budget discussion coming, as happens every year at this time. The article analyzes the process of discussion and approval of the State Budget in Portugal, comparing two main scenarios: with an absolute majority, in which the Government would have no difficulty approving the Budget through the votes of the parties that support it, or without a solid majority, a more complex situation in which it would be necessary to dialogue and negotiate with the opposition.
The text focuses particularly on the 2026 scenario, noting that the Budget will probably be approved by the votes of PSD and CDS, possibly with IL and PS abstention, or explicitly on the right. For Montenegro, neither of these solutions is ideal, as he would prefer conditions similar to those that António Costa had with the "geringonça" or with an absolute majority.
The article also mentions José Luís Carneiro, PS leader, who would be more focused on letting time pass while he recovers the party and waits for the Government's image to wear down, and André Ventura, to whom the author attributes sympathy for the idea of early elections, not to win, but to stay ahead of PSD and pressure for a coalition in which he would be prime minister.
The author concludes that the early elections scenario is not viable and that the priority must be political stability for another year, believing that the solution, although not satisfactory for either side, will be balanced. He regrets, however, that the opportunity is not taken for a serious debate about what State we have and what State we want.
