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Luís Montenegro: Centre-right leader invited to form minority government

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Portugal’s recent snap elections resulted in a fragmented parliament, with the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) emerging as the leading party but falling short of a majority. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has invited Luís Montenegro, a center-right politician, to form a minority government. However, with only 80 seats secured by the AD, alliances are necessary to pass legislation.

Montenegro’s appointment as prime minister follows consultations with party leaders and a refusal to collaborate with the far-right Chega party, despite their record gains. The rejection of Chega underscores the complexities of coalition-building in Portugal’s current political landscape, which faces its most fragmented parliament since the end of dictatorship.

As Montenegro assumes the role of prime minister, he confronts the challenge of navigating a divided parliament and securing support either from the Socialists or Chega to pass crucial legislation. His reluctance to divulge detailed strategies for forming a majority underscores the uncertainties surrounding the future governance of Portugal.

The premiership transition marks the departure of Antonio Costa, who led Portugal as Socialist party leader but resigned amid corruption allegations. Despite Costa’s departure, the issues that shaped voter discontent, such as low wages and rising rents, remain pertinent, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the country’s leadership.

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Biden Stands by Choice to Provide Ukraine with Controversial Cluster Bombs

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US President Joe Biden has defended his controversial decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, acknowledging it as a “very difficult decision” but emphasizing the urgent need for ammunition faced by the Ukrainian forces. While Ukraine’s leader praised the move as timely, criticism has arisen from human rights groups and certain Democrats. A Moscow envoy condemned the decision as cynical. Biden, ahead of a Nato summit, stated that he had consulted with allies regarding the decision.

Cluster bombs are internationally banned by over 120 countries due to their track record of causing civilian casualties. The decision to provide them to Ukraine has raised concerns due to the risk of unexploded bombs causing harm to civilians in the long term. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the risk and explained that the decision was postponed as long as possible. Sullivan asserted that the cluster bombs provided by the US are safer compared to those used by Russia in the conflict, with a lower rate of unexploded bombs.

The decision bypasses US law prohibiting the use, production, or transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate exceeding 1%. Earlier in the war, when allegations of Russia’s use of cluster and vacuum bombs surfaced, the US referred to it as a potential war crime. The UN human rights office called for an immediate halt to the use of such munitions in any location. The Russian ambassador to the US criticized Biden’s decision, highlighting the risk of civilians being harmed by failed submunitions for years to come.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the military aid package worth $800 million provided by the US. He stated that it would bring Ukraine closer to victory and democracy over dictatorship. However, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the US Cluster Munition Coalition condemned the decision, citing the grave threat cluster munitions pose to civilian lives even after the conflict ends.

The response from US lawmakers on Capitol Hill has been mixed, with some Democrats considering the decision alarming and a mistake, while others, including Republican leaders, view it as a means to enhance Ukraine’s capability to counter Russian forces more effectively.

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