Leftist Parties Open Door for New Agreements with PS Amidst Political Critique

Political Landscape Shifts

The leaders of BE (Left Bloc) and CDU (Unitarian Democratic Coalition) have not dismissed the possibility of post-election agreements with the PS (Socialist Party), conditional on the latter's willingness to "break from current policies." Mariana Mortágua, the BE leader, has accused Pedro Nuno Santos of a "rightward shift" in the party's stance.

Convergences in Debate

During a recent debate in the pre-campaign for the May 18 legislative elections on RTP3, Mortágua and Paulo Raimundo, representing CDU, highlighted their shared concerns. Mortágua used this opportunity to criticize the PS's approach to housing, accusing them of "abandoning the people", as well as the party's stance on immigration, suggesting they were merely following right-wing policies.

Conditions for Collaboration

When asked about potential post-election agreements with PS, both leaders kept the door open but insisted on conditions for change. Mortágua stated:

"The understanding depends on the policies. The BE presents priorities for the elections, and we will be here to discuss with PS and any deputies who genuinely want a cap on rents, a fair tax policy, and respect for those who work shifts."

Mortágua lamented the focus on "mathematics" in these elections, pointing out a significant issue:

"The rightward shift that PS is adopting in hopes of gaining support from PSD (Social Democratic Party) is the elephant in the room."

She raised the question of whether a coalition between PS and PSD would lead to actions that neither achieved separately.

Call for Change

The secretary-general of CDU emphasized the urgent need for change in the country's political direction, rejecting the continuation of current policies, which he claimed were not solely the responsibility of the PSD/CDS-PP government. He stated:

"Anyone willing to break from the current path can count on us. Those who think that waiting until 2029 is a good time for the national minimum wage to align with what is already practiced in Spain are not seeing the bigger picture."