Portuguese Socialists Reject Right-Wing Budget: Leitao Declares ‘Don’t Count on Us’

The pressure on the Portuguese government to compromise on the state budget continues to rise. Alexandra Leitao, the leader of the Socialist Party, has warned the ruling coalition that the Socialists will not be pressured or humiliated during negotiations. Leitao reminds the government that the elections were won by a narrow margin and insists that if Prime Minister Luis Montenegro wants the budget to pass, he needs to make concessions to the Socialists. She states that a right-wing budget can only be approved by right-wing parties and the Socialists will not support it. Leitao criticizes the government’s attempt to portray themselves as victims of the opposition’s ‘agitation’ and accuses them of trying to deceive the public with fake negotiations.