Portugal’s right-wing minority government, led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, collapsed on Tuesday after failing a confidence vote in Parliament. The government, in power for just 11 months, lost the vote 142-88 due to corruption allegations linked to Montenegro’s family business, Spinumviva.
This marks the second time since Portugal’s return to democracy in 1974 that a government has fallen in a confidence vote, the first being in 1977. Despite attempts to withdraw the vote and propose a short-term investigation, opposition parties, including the Socialist Party (PS), voted against the government.
Montenegro blamed the PS for disrupting economic stability and announced he would run again for prime minister. The main opposition, led by Pedro Nuno Santos, insisted on a full investigation into the allegations, rejecting the government’s proposed 15-day probe as inadequate.
As a result, Portugal faces its third election in three years, with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expected to call early elections on May 11 or 18. Recent polls suggest rising support for the PS, increasing their chances of winning.
Montenegro’s downfall stems from alleged ties between Spinumviva and Solverde, a major casino operator, where he previously acted as a legal representative. Reports indicate that Spinumviva engaged in undisclosed dealings with Solverde while Montenegro was politically active. On March 4, Solverde canceled its contract with Spinumviva to distance itself from the controversy. Montenegro’s minority government, formed in April 2024 with the Democratic Alliance (AD), now ends in turmoil, as Portugal braces for new elections and political uncertainty.
