In 2019, the People Animals Nature won one seat in the European Parliament, and increased their seat share to 4 in the Assembly (with 2 seats won in Lisbon, 1 in Porto, and 1 in Setúbal). In November 2021, on the brink of a political crisis, the then called geringonça (an informal left-wing alliance) imploded due to divergences regarding laboral legislations and the following year's state budget. PAN remained the only party in the parliament to abstain voting arguing that the country was not ready for another political and probably financial crisis in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. This political move had no effect in the end voting results and the government was dissolved by then President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.[14]
Ideology, political position and policies
People-Animals-Nature is commonly described as an environmentalist party.[2][5][15][16] It has been described as becoming "known for fighting for animal rights", "fights against cruelty to animals",[6] and as having an "animalist" ideology.[5] The party has been described as holding ecofeminist and progressive ideologies.[5] It has also been described as being "identified neither from the right nor from the left."[6] Other sources have identified the party as being on the centre-left of the political spectrum.[2]
In terms of policy, the party has "campaigned to invest in the national health service but does believe that the private and public sectors can work together", supports free transportation to combat climate change and cutting Portugal's corporate income tax rate to 17 percent by 2026.[5][6]André Silva, the party MP and then spokesperson for the party, on the party's fifth anniversary in January 2016, said the party's visibility had highlighted "causes, values, messages, ideas and measures that nobody else talks about", such as "bull fighting, climate change and oil drilling", which he dubbed "forgotten subjects".[17] Along with the political party LIVRE, PAN has "sparked conversations with proposals for unconditional basic income".[3][18]
Election results
Assembly of the Republic
Vote share in the Portuguese legislative elections