Portugal PM calls confidence vote he'll likely lose, electio...

LISBON - Portugal's prime minister proposed on Wednesday a confidence vote in his year-old minority government, risking his own dismissal as the main opposition parties vowed to defeat him. At the centre of the political crisis that could trigger a third early election since 2022 is a consultancy firm owned by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's family, which has made contracts with private companies that the opposition says have benefited the premier. Montenegro has denied any conflict of interest. "The country needs political clarification and this is the moment," Montenegro told parliament. "Having an early election would be a necessary evil ... to end the atmosphere of permanent insinuations and intrigues," he told lawmakers debating a no-confidence motion presented by the Communist Party, which parliament ended up rejecting. Montenegro's motion first needs cabinet approval and is ...