Pedro Nuno Santos, the leader of the Socialist Party (PS), has announced that the party will abstain from voting on the State Budget for 2025, a move aimed at ensuring the survival of a government he describes as “more minority than ever.” This announcement comes ahead of the PSD Congress and has taken many within the PS by surprise.
Santos emphasized that the PS’s decision to support the budget is not a result of negotiations but rather a strategic choice to avoid early elections just months after the government took office. He pointed out that current polling does not suggest a different outcome if elections were held soon.
He stressed that the abstention should not be interpreted as an agreement with the government but rather as a responsible decision in the interest of the country.
As the PS prepares for the upcoming discussions, Santos aims to unify the party during the General States meeting. The challenge remains on how to effectively lead the opposition following a controversial abstention that has left a lasting impression from the tenure of former leader António José Seguro.