Garbatellamike

OK so if I understand this right EMR the socialists are actually the neo-liberals, the left-bloc are the socialists and the communists/greenies are what it says on the tin??

bigglesworth

I think you missed out the Peoples Front of Judea.

Garbatellamike

I thought we were the Peoples Front????

I was thinking exactly that analogy.............

Popular Front - SPLITTER!!!

Red Eric

The Socialists are not going to work with the governing coalition under any circumstances - any more than Labour would work with the Conservatives in the UK. Even the CDS/PP (the junior coalition partner) have found it impossible to work with the PSD, which has simply steamrollered its way over them in much the way the Conservatives did to the LibDems - except that the Conservatives went on to win an outright majority on their own and this lot couldn't get much more than a third of the vote between the pair.The Socialists won't attempt to prevent the installation of the new government or bring it down from day one in the way the other 2 are likely to do, though - there'll be a degree of tolerance until the moment is right. It won't take long.

EMR

Given your predictions regarding the Greek crisis I think that I prefer to believe that basically little will change in Portugal.
The biggest threat to the centre right coalition will be another financial or political scandal but that will apply to all the parties.
What happened to the anti austerity steamroller .

Garbatellamike

I offer:

Pointing out the inherent problems with austerity is very easy (even an idiot like Varoufakis could do it) but this is not in itself a solution to the very real problems but it is in fact merely a heart-felt protest. The failure to offer any realistic alternatives to austerity has seen the steam roller lose momentum before it really went anywhere.

Garbatellamike

I know Eric was completely wrong about how things would play out in Greece but I sense he knows more about Portugal and might well turn out to be right.

EMR

The Portuguese I know have little enthusiasm for politics or for any change that will rock the boat that was once sinking but is now slowly making some progress.
Had there been any wish to elect a party that given its pre election stance was promising change then the socialists would now be the party in power.

Red Eric

Which predictions?

EMR

Just start with your very first post on this thread.

I have just read the Algarve Daily News latest on the Portuguese elections.
The last line sums it up with the electorate preferring the devil they know to change.
Only 57% turnout.

InVinoVeritas

You just have to be pulling our leg, Eric

Red Eric

No predictions there, EMR. A comment about the fact that at last we had an argument against austerity being aired and a couple of questions about whether change was imminent.I think the question "Are we watching history in the making?" was answered with a resounding "yes" but for all the wrong reasons. Who would have thought the EU could behave in such a blatantly vicious and anti-democratic manner (to say nothing of it's running totally contrary to providing any sort of a solution) towards one of its members?But that aside, I think actual predictions from me were few and far between - unless you can pick out some specific examples for me. I do remember, for example, predicting that an agreement would be reached and that there would be no "Grexit" - at a time when a number of others seemed to think "Grexit" was the likely outcome.

Red Eric

It's all a bit more complicated than the one winner, one loser scenario. The disaffection with the current style of politics / economics is quite clear when you look at the significant losses sustained by the coalition - they lost a quarter of the share of the vote and that will have a drastic effect on what legislation they can get through parliament. It means they'll have to completely rewrite their programme for the coming year at least. And if they try to resurrect what they had up their sleeve but were careful not to reveal during the election campaign, they'll run the risk of having to ask the electorate to choose again - but this time with a proper idea of what they're choosing instead of that faff about the previously empty state coffers now being full to bursting etc.

EMR

Clearly the socialists policies were not believed by the electorate to give them enough seats to form a government.
When you look back at Costa his performance mirrors that of Milliband in the UK, he did not come across as a possible head of government.
The move to the left can be viewed like that of ukips, a reflection of dissatisfaction with the two major groups rather than a belief in them as a potential government or as parties with any influence in government.

Garbatellamike

Requiem for the Loony Left – POLITICO

a good and accurate summary methinks..... Bye Bye Miss Completelycuckoolopolis....