Latest news and stories about political analysis in finance in Portugal for expats and residents.
Former Prime Minister Passos Coelho has issued a stern warning to Luis Montenegro regarding the urgent need for structural reforms, signaling his intent to present a new transformative agenda for Portugal.
The rejection of the government's labour package highlights the power of popular struggle over institutional politics, as political tensions between Chega and the PSD led to a last-minute collapse of the agreement.
People with higher incomes and companies lead the responses regarding who benefits most from the 2027 Budget. The Tracking Poll also shows that abstention is the most chosen option for the PS, and approval for the Liberal Initiative.
Portugal does not need more political soap operas. It needs ideas, projects, and plans to be more prosperous twenty years from now.
Pedro Passos Coelho, who describes himself as an “executive” and for whom “the position of President of the Republic means nothing”.
The pensioners' confederation argues that the CGA must take responsibility. Also, Pedro Passos Coelho leaves open the possibility of returning to political life.
Are there conditions for Pedro Passos Coelho's return to politics? The former prime minister responds, criticises the country's direction, and issues a warning regarding political deadlock and the inability to implement structural reforms. Listen to the interview by Maria João Avillez here.
José Luís Carneiro issued warnings to the party regarding the times ahead.
Adalberto Campos Fernandes, a commentator for CNN Portugal, believes that the Government “must get used to living well with criticism” and that both Mário Centeno and Pedro Passos Coelho “have the legitimacy to analyse reality and make their own judgements”.
Sebastião Bugalho believes that a fundamental understanding between the PS and PSD would be 'Ventura's dream'. He says that Centeno 'does not have a single idea' and that Moedas has the 'credentials' to respond to Passos.
In the Comissão Política podcast, we analyse the President of the Republic's speech on October 5th, the approval of the State Budget, and the future constitutional review.
The former minister compares Montenegro to Sócrates using numerical gymnastics. Meanwhile, Aguiar-Branco and André Ventura are locked in a standoff over the parliamentary inquiry commission, and there is still a shadow game being played between the PS and PSD.
The PS lost the 2024 elections. Centeno should have been warned and anticipated his non-reappointment. He was not, and is not, the centre of the world or the only possible governor of the Bank of Portugal.
It is natural that it took him time to find the right tone, but Carneiro currently has the wind at his back: the polls are favourable to him and the economic situation has seen better days. Editorial by Pedro Candeias.
By Carlos Rodrigues.
Passos and Centeno, naturally, believe they would do better. And, without much ceremony, they are already running on their own track, ready to take flight as soon as the sky darkens.
This article explores the potential for leadership shifts within Portugal's main political parties, the Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), by 2027. It highlights the perceived struggles of current leaders José Luís Carneiro and Luís Montenegro, suggesting that Mário Centeno may be positioning himself within the PS, while Pedro Passos Coelho is seen as a potential challenger for the PSD. The analysis focuses on Portugal's long-term economic stagnation, low productivity, and the failure of recent governments to close the wealth gap with the European Union average.
It makes sense that more and more people look at Passos Coelho and see, not a former prime minister nostalgic for his own term, but someone who continues to be right ahead of his time.
Miguel Morgado analyses the Government's measures to address the rising cost of living, the parliamentary standoff surrounding the commissions of inquiry into Luís Neves, and Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address at the European Parliament.
![Miguel Morgado: “Montenegro, as leader of the opposition [at the time], capitalised greatly on the wear and tear of António Costa [during the 2022 crisis] and it seems the same will happen to him now”](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.impresa.pt%2Fexpresso%2F2026-09-22-miguel-morgado-2109.jpg-b082540f%2F1.91x1%2Fmw-1200%3FoutputFormat%3Djpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Hence the question already circulating, which is not a bad one: has the PS found its own Passos Coelho? The ingredients are there, the difference lies in what each one has to justify themselves.
The President of the Republic offered high praise to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Furthermore, regarding the measures presented, the PS accuses Luís Montenegro of failing two million workers.
Luís Aguiar-Conraria believes that the liberals, being a small party, “need allies.”
The PCP leader is not disappointed with Seguro because expectations “were not high”, believes that Chega is “the can opener for the politics” of Montenegro, and reveals that his boss gave him a raise above inflation.
It is not by accusing opponents of fascism, nor by denouncing only the scandals of others while protecting one's own, that the growth of the extremes is halted.
The political 'rentrée'—the start of the new cycle—has arrived, but rather than presenting new agendas, the government and opposition are stuck in a cycle of managing existing issues. While the government focuses on past promises and fiscal caution ahead of the 2027 Budget, the Socialist Party (PS) remains reactive, focusing on criticism rather than offering a clear alternative. Meanwhile, Chega is attempting to position itself by setting specific demands for the budget, highlighting the ongoing struggle between parties to define their political identity beyond mere administrative competence.
Political grocery shopping is what we witnessed at the PSD and PS summer political kick-offs. With one referencing Cavaco Silva and the other Guterres, both seem to have very little to say to the country. Montenegro exhausted his speech with a long-winded account of his recent activities, ignoring essentials like Health, Housing, and Justice. He also raised the issue of 'modern censorship'—a strange claim, as Montenegro should know that independent journalism is not meant to be a propaganda arm for the Government. If the Executive cannot communicate effectively, it should change its press advisors. Independent journalism exists to scrutinise, which includes highlighting government failures, lack of ethics, and errors. Montenegro's reliance on statistics, much like António Costa before him, fails to address the reality of citizens struggling to find affordable housing. He has lost his reformist momentum. Meanwhile, José Luís Carneiro suffers from the same malaise, failing to offer a national vision beyond referencing 1995. Both parties are stuck in petty political squabbles, failing to address the urgent needs of the Portuguese people: a slow justice system, inaccessible housing, a struggling health service, and the brain drain of young talent. The country needs long-term vision and the inclusion of the best minds to solve these national constraints, not just political posturing.
The headline discusses the perception that the Portuguese economic and political system is heavily influenced by cronyism.
Ana Gomes advocates for PS support of the AD with a return in future elections. Duarte Pacheco views a grand coalition as a mistake that would empower Chega. Meanwhile, Rui Gomes da Silva says the PS is waiting for the government to wear down.
Mariana Leitão argues that Portugal suffers from an overabundance of announced reforms rather than a shortage.
