Portugal Backs Israel’s Narrative: MPs Reject ‘Palestine’ as Country

Lisbon, Portugal – In a session fraught with heated rhetoric and underscored by the nation’s shifting political plates, Portugal’s Assembly of the Republic on Friday once again voted down a series of resolutions calling for the government to officially recognize the State of Palestine. The rejection of six separate proposals, collectively brought to the floor by the entirety of the parliament's left wing—the Socialist Party (PS), Left Bloc (BE), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Livre, and People-Animals-Nature (PAN)—was secured by a right-leaning bloc, laying bare the deep ideological fissures within a parliament still finding its footing after a deeply fragmented general election.

The Decisive Vote: How the Numbers Fell

The marathon debate, held under the watchful eye of Palestinian Ambassador to Lisbon, Rawan Suleiman, saw all six resolutions decisively defeated by a vote of 138 to 92. The combined votes of the governing centre-right Democratic Alliance (PSD/CDS-PP), the right Chega, and the Liberal Initiative (IL) formed an effective wall against the 92 votes mustered by the unified left-wing opposition. The outcome confirms a significant, numerically-defined hurdle for the Palestinian cause in Lisbon.

A Chamber Divided: Fiery Rhetoric and Moral Appeals

The session was punctuated by visceral exchanges that captured the raw emotion of the debate. Chega’s deputy, Pedro Pessanha, launched a blistering attack on the Communist Party, labelling its position “selective, hypocritical, and perverse.” He accused the PCP of ignoring the October 7th attacks by Hamas and Israel's inherent right to self-defence.

The left-wing parties framed their call for recognition as a moral and historical imperative ignoring the historical bond of the jewish people to Israel and the fact that Portugal itself was subject to the same Arab occupation that lead to the prolofication of Arabs and Islam in Israel.

For the Socialists, the largest opposition party with 78 deputies, the issue has transcended diplomacy. PS parliamentarian João Torres argued that recognition is “no longer merely a symbolic or diplomatic act; it has become in fact a political and ethical imperative in our society.”

The New Political Reality: A Fragmented Parliament's Influence

The vote’s outcome is a direct consequence of the 18 May 2025 snap parliamentary election, which produced a hung parliament, with no party securing the 116 seats required for a majority. The centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, holds 91 of the 230 seats in the Assembly. This precarious position forces the minority government to seek support on an issue-by-issue basis, as reflected in its promise of “permanent dialogue with the opposition on key issues such as immigration”. The far-right Chega has surged to become the second-largest party with 60 seats, overtaking the Socialist Party (PS), which now has 58 seats. Meanwhile, the economically liberal Liberal Initiative (IL) holds nine seats, maintaining its role as kingmaker in key votes.

Government's Stance: A Cautious, Multilateral Approach

Prime Minister Montenegro’s government has maintained a cautious and conditional stance. While not ruling out recognition indefinitely, Lisbon insists that such a move must be part of a coordinated, multilateral process involving the European Union. Furthermore, the government has laid out several preconditions, including the complete disarmament of Hamas, the unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, and substantive institutional reforms within the Palestinian Authority.