Portugal’s new government collapsed this week after just 11 days in office. A centre-right coalition emerged as the largest bloc after the 4 October election, but without a parliamentary majority. Since then, the Socialists, Communists and far-left Left Bloc have buried historical differences and last Tuesday managed to oust the government in a no-confidence vote. They now look set to form a government.
Portugal’s president, Anibal Cavaco Silva, has made clear his distaste for the left and could, in principle, decide to keep the current minority government in place until the constitution permits new elections in April, but is thought unlikely to do so.
What the commentators said
“If you thought this year’s Greek crisis was entertaining,” said The Wall Street Journal, “you might be in for a rerun.” While the far-left parties have toned down their previous opposition to euro and Nato membership, they reject the austerity and reforms that Portugal has continued to implement since exiting its bailout last year. They are calling for the renationalisation of some companies, higher public-sector salaries and a higher minimum wage.
This is not a “Syriza moment”, said Ambrose Evans-Pritchard on Telegraph.co.uk. But “the ascendancy of the left marks a clear break with the previous austerity regime”. Given the coalition’s apparent desire to turn back the clock, a leftist coalition “could pose a real risk to both domestic and international confidence in the Portuguese economy”, said Desmond Lachman of the American Enterprise Institute on TheHill.com – which is something Portugal really can’t afford.
The country’s overall debt pile is still around 125% of GDP. Add in private debt and the overall ratio jumps to 370% of GDP, among the highest in Europe. The recovery has been slow and the economy is flirting with deflation, which would make the debt pile worse. If the country now turns its back on austerity and reform, it could lose its investment grade status from credit rating agencies.That would prevent the European Central Bank from buying its debt – and thus keeping long-term borrowing costs low – as part of its quantitative easing programme.
This Portuguese drama is “part of a larger process of political fragmentation” in Europe, noted Lachman. Catalonia is making noises about declaring independence from Spain, while the migrant crisis is undermining Angela Merkel’s authority.
If Spanish socialists combine with new insurgent parties to boot out the right in Spain next month, added Evans-Pritchard, the whole of southern Europe would be left-leaning. It would then have the “heft to confront Germany and push for a fundamental overhaul” of the euro bloc’s economic policy. Political risk in Europe is making a comeback.