President schedules snap parliamentary election for 18 May
In an address to the nation after a meeting of the Council of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for a "clear, dignified debate" in the 65 days until the elections.
A snap parliamentary election will be held in Portugal on 18 May, following the political crisis that led to the resignation of the right-of-centre minority coalition government, the country’s president announced on Thursday.
In an address to the nation after a meeting of the Council of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for a “clear, dignified debate” in the 65 days until the elections.
According to electoral law, in the event of dissolution of parliament, the head of state must set the date for legislative elections at least 55 days in advance.
His decision follows the fall of the government on Tuesday as a result of a majority of members of parliament voting aginst a confidence motion tabled by the executive itself.