portugal’s general election
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An appeal not to vote
Quote:But even if your vote indeed manages to make a difference and a new party is elected, nothing will change. As you see everywhere else, it makes little or no difference at all. Take Greece for example, compare what Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras promised and what Syriza are doing now. Once in power, politicians realize they have no power, they are all contractually and legally bound to institutions and corporations.Not sure of the full result but the status quo has apparently wonI was however intrigued to learn that Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) – a far left party has no official leader but is overseen instead by a six-member committee. May not mean anything but i wonder if othere here might know more
The anti-austerity Left Bloc, with 10% ( of a low, 42% turnout) didn't do too badly, but the outgoing government which campaigned on the slogan "austerity works" was voted back in:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/portugal/11911562/Portugals-austerity-government-wins-re-election.htmlIt looks as if most workers in Portugal are resigned to the fate that capitalism has imposed on them at present.
Portugal Ahead were coming from a high point of 50%+ of the vote, and could still be unhorsed by a left-bloc, so claims they won the elction are considerably premature. What is clear, is PA retain considerable support. Although, it's worth noting the 56% turn-out, that should worry the powers that be…
Yes, I was going to come back on that figure given by the Daily Torygraph of a 42% turnout. It seems that they mistakenly gave the figure for abstentions. Even so, as you point out, even a 57% is bad for the ruling class there and indicative of a low legitimacy for whatever government emerges.
It seems we may have jumped the gun here in assuming that the election will result in the continuance of the outgoing "austerity works" government. There seems to be the possibility of a "left of centre" one led by the PS and supported by the CP and the Left Bloc:http://news.yahoo.com/portugal-makes-no-headway-forming-government-093106426.html
Quote:The Left Bloc campaigned to renegotiate the national debt and end austerity measures, while the Communist Party wants Portugal out of the eurozone, but both say they are willing to give up those policies in order to keep Passos Coelho from returning to the prime minister's office in Lisbon's Sao Bento palace.Not that it will make all that much difference.
Portugal's election has taken an unexpected turn.The President choosing not to recognise a coalition government because of its anti-EU and anti-NATO positions but the telling quote from him is –
Quote:it is my duty, within my constitutional powers, to do everything possible to prevent false signals being sent to financial institutions, investors and markets,” he said.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11949701/AEP-Eurozone-crosses-Rubicon-as-Portugals-anti-euro-Left-banned-from-power.htmlBut as the Telegraph points out he is as President happy enough to ignore the fact that half the voters chose anti-austerity anti-cuts parties – he isn't upholding their rights. I note at this time, only the Telegraph deems it of importance – no doubt because of its Euro-scepticism – to report on the Portuguese constitutional dilemma.
It's not really surprising that a minority government has been allowed to be formed in Portugal, but the reasons given by the President are scandalous from a democratic point of view. He sounds like a complete fool for spelling out what might indeed be the reason when he could have thought up some other more democratically acceptable one. I doubt if he or the new government will last long. It will be interesting to see how long it can survive with a majority of MPs against it.
The latest development and the latest prediction http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34754872
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/10/portuguese-mps-force-minority-government-to-quit-over-austerityOut with the old – in with the old
ALB wrote:I doubt if he or the new government will last long. It will be interesting to see how long it can survive with a majority of MPs against it.Only 11 days in the event. Who says that parliaments elected by universal suffrage have no say in who forms the government (and so who controls the state machine)? Anarchists and anti-parliamentarians wrong again.Having said that, it will also be interesting to see how long any new leftwing coalition government will last but they will fail for another reason: governing capitalism means that sooner or later they will have to take anti-working class measures which will probably not be acceptable to some of the coalition partners. But then it's not our claim that parliament controls how the capitalist economy operates but only who forms the government and controls the state.
I see the numbskull President of Portugal is still playing silly buggers, thinking of maintaining the outgoing government in a caretaker capacity until fresh elections within six months. This despite the fact that not all members of the capitalist class in Portugal seem all that worried over the possibility of a leftwing government. As one of them says, quoted in this article: "A few steps to the left, well ok":http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/19/us-portugal-crisis-insight-idUSKCN0T80LH20151119#JuMjq9807wzTSd6T.97
The President seems to have backed down or maybe he's banking on the leftwing parties not being able to get their act together (as does seem difficult):https://uk.news.yahoo.com/portugal-president-meet-socialist-leader-costa-amid-government-102032049.html#T2ie3EtFor any new people looking in on this forum, the Portugese Socialist Party isn't socialist of course. It's only the equivalent of the Labour Party in Britain.
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