Catholic University poll gives PS Azores a 3% lead.

A poll by the Catholic University in Portugal, in association with RTP, Antena 1, and Público newspaper, carried out between January 27 and 28 and released today, gives a slight lead of 3% to PS Açores, with 39%, followed by the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM Coalition with 36% of voting intentions. In third place is CHEGA (the ultra right wing populist party), with 9% of the vote.

To the question, “Regardless of your party preferences, between José Manuel Bolieiro and Vasco Cordeiro, who would be a better President of the Regional Government?” Respondents give 41% to Vasco Cordeiro, and 37% to José Manuel Bolieiro, and 22% don’t know/won’t answer.

The president of Chega said today that the party is willing to “form a right-wing government” in the Azores, but stressed that the dialogue for an “alternative” executive depends on the commitments made by the Social Democrats.

In the afternoon, André Ventura accompanied José Pacheco, Chega’s regional leader, and head of the list for the São Miguel and Compensation constituencies in the regional legislative elections, in a parade through the center of Ponta Delgada, where the candidacy distributed leaflets, pens, and greetings.

“At the moment, Chega demands to have a good vote, to have a large parliamentary group, and after Sunday – José Pacheco has been saying this incessantly – we will assess the political conditions,” he told reporters.

According to André Ventura, it is already sure that “there will never again be a government of parliamentary agreement” in the archipelago, as there was after the 2020 elections: “Either there is an alternative government, or there will be a government of forces other than Chega’s and Chega will remain in the opposition playing its role.”

The objectives on the nine islands, he said, are to prevent the PS from governing – “just like at the national level” – and, depending on the electoral strength obtained on February 4, to get the PSD to commit to “what it hasn’t done so far,” such as effectively fighting corruption.

“There is only a desire here to form a government on the right. […] If we continue to measure egos on the right, what will probably happen is that we’ll all lose,” he said after being asked about the statements made by the leader of the PS/Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, about the existence of an agreement between the current ruling coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) and Chega to form a government.

“Seriousness in the fight against corruption, a reduction in the tax burden, and an end to families in power” are among the commitments demanded of the Social Democrats by Chega so that there is “a way to start talking.”

In the 2020 regional elections, when the PS lost its absolute majority of two decades, PSD, CDS-PP, and PPM formed a coalition government with parliamentary agreements with Chega and IL.

The liberals broke off the agreement in March 2023, and months later, together with PS and BE, voted against this year’s Plan and Budget, which were ultimately rejected. Chega abstained, having voted in favor of the three previous budgets.

André Ventura recalled that among the failed commitments was creating an anti-corruption office that was only set up months ago “without the powers and capacity to intervene.”

Asked about the national legislature on March 10, the Chega president reiterated that “the ambition is to win” and, if that happens, “to form a government,” but pointed out that the major parties need to clarify what they intend to do on election night.

“Even if the PS has more votes, we’re going to call on all the other parties to form an alternative government to the Socialist Party. If the PSD doesn’t want to, that’s right, but it’s a choice the PSD has to make,” he said.

The President of the Republic decided to dissolve the Azorean parliament and set early elections for February 4 after the budget for this year was rejected. Eleven candidates are running in the regional legislative elections, with 57 seats up for grabs: PSD/CDS-PP/PPM, ADN, CDU (PCP/PEV), PAN, Alternativa 21 (MPT/Aliança), IL, Chega, BE, PS, JPP and Livre.

From jornalAcores9.pt in the Azores.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno–PBBI thanks the sponsorship of the Luso-American Development Foundation from Lisbon, Portugal (FLAD)