Prime Minister Luís Montenegro went to Parliament to defend the Finance Minister, Joaquim Miranda Neves, during a debate on the cost of living, at a time when the Socialist Party (PS) was under attack. Montenegro took the opportunity to demonstrate that the executive still maintains political initiative.
The afternoon was marked by the announcement of support measures for pensioners and the middle class, which set the context for the debate. The Government's objective seemed to be to show firmness against the opposition and consolidate the executive's position.
Only Chega voted in favor of a motion of censure against the Government, which reveals the isolation of the far-right party on the political scene. The remaining opposition parties did not support the motion presented by Chega.
The episode highlights Montenegro's strategy of maintaining control of the political agenda, using the defense of his finance minister as a way to reinforce the image of stability and leadership of the executive.
