He was fortunate in that external economic trends and the infusion of funds from the European Community after Portugal became a member in 1986 enlivened the country's economy and began to bring an unaccustomed prosperity to Portuguese wage earners. Confident therefore that his party could win in parliamentary elections, Cavaco Silva maneuvered his political opponents into passing a vote of censure against his government in April 1987.
Cavaco Silva was fortunate because external economic trends and the influx of funds from the European Community after Portugal's membership in 1986 brought about an unexpected prosperity to Portuguese workers. With this newfound confidence, Cavaco Silva skillfully manipulated his political opponents into voting against his government in April 1987.