La difusión de nuevos clientes de la empresa del primer ministro de Portugal agria el debate electoral | Internacional | EL PAÍS

Key Debate Points

The televised debate between Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Socialist candidate Pedro Nuno Santos centered around several key issues:

• Montenegro's Family Business: The main point of contention was Spinumviva, Montenegro's family business, which continued operations while he served as Prime Minister, leading to accusations of conflicts of interest.
• Government Crisis Management: Santos criticized Montenegro's handling of recent crises, including power outages, health care issues, and wildfires, questioning his leadership.
• Economic Outlook: While Portugal shows positive economic data, the candidates differed on future economic projections, with Santos expressing concerns about potential public deficit increases.
• Healthcare System: The ongoing shortage of family doctors in Portugal, and the government's plans to privatize hospitals and health centers, were significant topics of debate.

Election Context

The debate comes ahead of the May 18th election, the third early election in three years. Montenegro, campaigning on his record of governing, has benefited from support from various professional groups. However, Santos, while maintaining his voter base, struggles to attract new voters.

Current polls suggest a likely victory for Montenegro's conservative coalition, though the 2024 election saw an extremely tight outcome.