Who is Luis Montenegro? The new prime minister and unlikely champion of the right in Portugal

Luis Montenegrothe moderate leader of the right appointed Prime Minister of Portugal this Thursdayhe is an experienced MP, but with no government experience, perceived as honest and competent despite his lack of charisma.

The 51-year-old politician became Portugal’s new leader following his victory Democratic Alliance in the legislative elections on March 10, with a short majority that will force him to govern in a minority.

Trained lawyerhe became leader of the opposition after the Socialist Party (PS) won the previous legislative elections, in January 2022, with an absolute majority.

From imposing height, dark hair, blue eyes and the dimples on his chin, he seemed destined to play a secondary role. But the surprise resignation of António Costa, punctuated by a case of influence peddlingput this qualified lawyer in the spotlight.

Montenegro He dedicated his entire life to politics. At the age of 29, he was elected MP and refined his rhetoric to become head of the parliamentary group of the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) during his last period in power, between 2011 and 2015.

During this period, he supported the implementation of a rigorous fiscal austerity program negotiated by Portugal with the EU-ECB-IMF “troika” in exchange for a financial aid package, which avoided its bankruptcy during the country’s debt crisis. ‘eurozone.

“People’s lives have not improved, but the country is better“, he said in defense of this unpopular economic policy. A phrase that was much criticized and perceived as not very empathetic.

But in pre-election polls voters described him as a “more honest” and “more competent” man. of his opponent, the new socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos, even though most commentators and editorialists considered him lacking in charisma.

Montenegro born in Portothe large city in the north of the country, but he grew up in the town of Espinho, about 20 km further south, where he currently lives with his wife and two children.

An FC Porto fan, he worked in the same coastal city as a lifeguard during his youth. In that period he also joined the youth of the PSD, where he began his political career.

Montenegro He became a city councilor at just 24 years old.but he failed when he attempted to be elected mayor of Espinho in the 2005 municipal elections.

After leaving Parliament in 2018, he tried to lead his party two years later. He obtained it in May 2022, supported by the internal current that still supported the former prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

Not the populist far right

But since then, both men distanced themselves for the challenge posed by the rise of the far right. Montenegro he rejected any deal with the populist Chega party.

“No means no”he insisted during the electoral campaign, a promise he reiterated after confirming his victory at the polls.

His closest associates describe him as someone sometimes stubborn, who likes to make decisions alone. “Power is exercised with a certain discretion and sometimes in great solitude,” he had once said.

In addition to the judicial problems that brought down the outgoing socialist governmentand, Montenegro is also under investigation on the tax benefits you received during construction his luxurious home in Espinho.