Portugal: From exception to the epicentre

Abstract

Portugal benefited from late exposure to the COVID pandemic, as the local community transmission was only observed from March 2020 onwards. Portugal’s response to the health crisis was initially framed as a success due to the limited intensity of infection rates. However, this narrative was severely challenge by a spike in daily cases observed in January 2021 due to the lifting of restrictions during the Christmas season. To tackle uncontrolled virus dissemination, the government imposed two periods of national lockdown. In political terms, the health crisis failed to enhance the polarization of the political system as a close coordination was observed between the Portuguese President of the Republic and the Prime-Minister. Likewise, a consensual approach was adopted by the main opposition party towards the government. Nonetheless, the health crisis provoked distress regarding the support of the Portuguese left-wing parties for the Socialist minority government.