Marques Mendes: “A political crisis, this year, I think even impossible” – Express

To Luís Marques Mendes, the discussion of the TSU this week in Parliament overshadowed the announcement that the deficit in 2016 will be at 2.3% or even below this value, stressing that this is a great news for the country.

"it Is an excellent result. Below all the forecasts, below the target foreseen in the Budget, below the goal imposed by Brussels. It is a good news for Portugal and for the Government," said the former leader of the PSD in its usual space comment in the SIC.

Marques Mendes noted that this will allow the country to exit in the next few months of the Excessive Deficit Procedure and can also help to restore the confidence of investors and to contribute to the decrease of interest debt. "Is the deficit an all-time low. A year ago no one believed the deficit could stay in that value. Less deficit means less debt and less debt means less taxes."

On the TSU, the commentator said he did not doubt that next week will be voted the decree law of the Government in Parliament and advanced a plan B. "I Think that Antonio Costa has to act fast, this episode weakens the Government."

Still, Marques Mendes does not consider that the case of the TSU is sufficient to lead to a political crisis – which would be a disaster in financial terms for the country – but rather a sample of what will happen in the future. And explains: "Because this year there are local elections and the political life is always more radical and crispada. Is part of the ritual, there is a novelty in particular."

Anticipating more disagreements in the 'contraption', Marques Mendes argues that the "PCP and the BE want to do proof of life and show that there are", while on the other hand the "PSD have to radicalize to cheer on the hosts. A political crisis this year, I think even impossible," he concluded.

About the decision of the PSD not to support the candidacy of the Assumption Ridges to Lisbon, the former leader of the social democrats believes that the party will have more difficulty in finding a candidate popular. "Who is going to stay in second place? This is the great doubt. (…) Fernando Medina may have already champagne to the two parties for the invaluable help that you gave", jeered.

Marques Mendes remembered that what goes on in the capital at the level of the local always has a positive or negative influence on the rest of the country.