Portugal

Abstract

[Excerpt] In the period between the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021 the minority centre-left Socialist Party (PS) government led by António Costa continued to enjoy important levels of stability, despite some signs of increased political tension against the context of a more fragmented parliament (since the 2019 general election), the rise of Portugal’s small radical right party, the multiple challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a busy political calendar, including several national votes and the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). The PS government’s approval rate remained above 35% in most opinion polls, with a lead of around 10 points over the main opposition party, the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD)