In the general voting, in the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic, the PS was the only party to vote in favour of the budget proposal, which has abstentions from the PAN party and of the two non-registered deputies, Joacine Katar Moreira and Cristina Rodrigues.

In total, 108 deputies voted in favour, five abstained and 117 voted against.

"The result was the rejection of this Government proposal", stated the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, at the end of the vote.

Following the vote, prime minister António Costa, surrounded by all the members of the Government who took part in the parliamentary debate with him, declared to journalists, that he felt "quiet conscience" and will hold his head high.

The head of Government insisted that he would accept "without comment" any decision that the President of the Republic may now take - and everything points to the dissolution of the AR and the calling of early elections

"The Government respects the competences of the President of the Republic ", said António Costa, also assuring that the Portuguese "can count on the Government to continue to ensure governance".