Portugal is set for its third snap election in three years due to mounting pressure over a scandal involving Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s business dealings. The controversy, known as Spinumviva, has sparked widespread concern about the prime minister’s ties to government contracts and led to his resignation last November.
A year ago, Portugal held an election that saw the Democratic Alliance coalition, led by Montenegro, win the most votes and form a minority government. Many assumed this would be a stable administration, but recent developments have cast doubt on its durability.
At the center of the scandal is Spinumviva, a data protection consultancy founded by Montenegro in 2021. Initially, he had no direct involvement with the company, but after transferring ownership to his family members, questions arose about whether he benefited personally from government contracts awarded to the firm’s clients. This has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impact on the prime minister’s administration.
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-elections-political-crisis-luis-montenegro-spinumviva