The key Portuguese parties have been requested by the
President to look for a broad political accord in order to guarantee enough
stability during the last year of implementation of the current agreement with
the international creditors.
This call is a surprise move by President Cavaco Silva. It
reflects in many ways the huge economic and social challenges the country has
to confront in the near future. It also reflects a very serious polarisation of
the domestic political situation, not just between the government and the opposition,
but also within the coalition parties themselves.
It is a critical moment for the Portuguese. But in general,
people have shown a tremendous amount of wisdom and have tried to navigate
these difficult times. It is however very easy to give up hope and fall into
sectarian partisan approaches. The President’s initiative should allow the
political leaders to show that they place the national interest above
personality clashes and power games. It is however a very complex call, very
difficult to be successful. It can only be achieved if leading party people
have the stature of statesmen. That’s, at the end of the day, what is on the
table today in Portugal: an invitation to grow beyond one’s own limitations and
to show commitment to a larger goal.
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