The PS (Socialist Party) decided to abstain on the motion of censure against the Government, in a deliberate strategy to avoid being associated with the PSD and the right-wing forces. The decision not to enable the motion was considered essential for its rejection, but proved to be politically delicate.
During the debate, the PS was under heavy criticism, from both the left and the right, for keeping the Government in office while not obtaining concrete guarantees about the State Budget. The position was described as a crossroads for the socialists.
The prime minister did not offer further guarantees to the PS about the State Budget during the afternoon, leaving the socialists without the security they sought to justify their support for the executive.
The motion of censure was ultimately rejected, but the PS ended the day without achieving significant progress in budget negotiations, in a moment that exposed the weaknesses of their political strategy.
