Parliament has rejected the government's proposed labour reform in a general vote after the Chega party joined opposition parties to vote against the measure. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro insisted the government will not abandon its competitiveness goals, while the Minister of Labour, Maria Palma Ramalho, faces calls for resignation from the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE). Business confederations expressed disappointment, while trade unions like the UGT celebrated the outcome as a victory for workers.
Update: Ventura claims he sought consensus until the final hour
Chega leader André Ventura rejected claims that the vote was a result of political calculation, stating he attempted to reach a consensus with the government until the very last moment. He accused the executive of acting with arrogance and unilaterally, while the government maintains that the rejection represents a lost opportunity for the country.
