Figueiredo Urges Marcelo to Press Government on Health Crisis Ahead of Vote

Portugal’s presidential race has taken an unexpected health-policy turn. Cotrim Figueiredo says Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is applying “far too little heat” on the Government over an escalating health-care crisis, even after a string of ambulance-response deaths jolted the nation. With the ballot only days away, the dispute shines a light on how much practical influence a head of state can — or should — wield in Portugal’s semi-presidential system.

Quick Glance at the Flashpoints

• Daily but discreet presidential talks with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro are deemed “soft” by Figueiredo.

• Recent INEM-related fatalities revived fears about systemic fragility.

• The President just promulgated a new access system for consultations and surgeries yet voiced doubts about data protection.

• Experts argue the Constitution limits direct intervention, but public pressure can still move policy.

• The issue lands in the middle of a high-stakes election on 18 January.

A Presidency under Scrutiny

Figueiredo, the market-friendly contender backed by Iniciativa Liberal, accuses Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of “insufficient pressure” on the executive. While the President says he has conducted “almost daily” conversations with the prime minister, the challenger insists that those chats have failed to force tangible fixes. He also stresses that any meaningful push must be directed at the head of government rather than “making small talk with ministers”. The critique underscores the tension between the President’s moderating mandate and a public that wants visible action amid hospital closures and crowded emergency wards.

What Marcelo Has Done So Far

Over the past month, the head of state has combined public appeals with behind-the-scenes diplomacy. He demanded a full accounting of the INEM delays that allegedly cost lives, told reporters the prime minister is “fully aware” of the gravity, and green-lighted the National System for Access to Consultations and Surgeries. Yet he also signalled he might reconsider the future of Health Minister Ana Paula Martins only after polls close. For critics, these moves illustrate a President who raises alarms yet stops short of dramatic gestures such as a public ultimatum or legislative veto.

Why Health Keeps Dominating the Portuguese Agenda

Portugal’s Service Nacional de Saúde (SNS) faces chronic staff shortages, an ageing population, and funding that many economists say has risen without matching performance. The recent closure of multiple emergency rooms, plus surgery postponements over the festive period, has amplified frustration. Ordinary families, especially in the interior, complain of two-hour ambulance waits and week-long deadlines for primary appointments. The crisis has become a political litmus test, measuring whether leaders can guarantee basic public services in an era of competing fiscal pressures.

How Specialists Rate the Presidential Leverage

Health-economy scholar Pedro Pita Barros notes that the President’s real power lies in his ability to “shape the narrative” and veto flawed laws. The USF-AN, a leading family-health association, applauds Marcelo for championing a cross-party pact to protect the SNS from stop-start reforms. Constitutional lawyers, however, remind voters that in a semi-presidential republic, the head of state cannot command cabinet reshuffles or dictate budget lines. They say the most effective path is sustained public pressure, not tactical micro-management. Hence, while Figueiredo calls for bolder confrontation, legal experts caution against mission creep into the Government’s day-to-day remit.

Political Stakes Two Weeks Before the Polls

The clash arrives as Portuguese voters prepare for the 18 January election, where immigration, wages, and housing were expected front and centre. Now, the health narrative risks eclipsing all else, especially after heartbreaking news footage from the Setúbal and Viseu districts. For Figueiredo, seizing the health theme helps differentiate him from centre-right incumbent Marcelo, whose popularity still hovers above 65 % approval. Yet analysts warn the gambit could backfire if the electorate views it as political opportunism rather than a constructive agenda.

What It Means for People in Portugal

For the average household, the debate isn’t academic. It touches on ambulance arrival times, queue lengths, and whether surgery dates slip again next winter. While constitutional boundaries limit presidential muscle, public outcry can still push the Government toward faster IT upgrades, better staffing ratios, and clearer accountability when tragedies strike. Regardless of who wins on 18 January, the next occupant of Belém Palace will find healthcare expectations higher than ever — and patience in short supply.