The President of the Republic refused on Saturday to comment on the idea championed by Durão Barroso that there is a need for a “right lung” in Portugal, instead highlighting the government’s measures to deal with interest rates.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, this government action “gives – and yes – one lung, two lungs” even because of its economic and also political effects.
The head of state, who spoke to journalists in Toronto during his official visit to Canada, did not want to comment on the launch of the book by the former President of the Republic Cavaco Silva, The Prime Minister and the Art of Governingpresented on Friday in Lisbon by former Prime Minister Durão Barroso – two former PSD presidents, such as Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
‘I haven’t read it and you know I don’t comment on principle. I will not comment on former Presidents of the Republic and future Presidents of the Republic”, replied Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, considering that his orientation in this matter is “very peaceful and very civilized”.
When asked specifically about the idea championed by Durão Barroso that “the country is too unbalanced to the left” and that there is a lack of a “right-wing lung” in the public space in Portugal, the head of state stated: “I commentary. I’ll tell you one thing rather, and that is: I have been following with interestand with positive interest, what measures are being investigated to mitigate the consequences of rising interest rates”.
“And I see with interest and as positive what is being thought about finding formulas so that in the near future this will not put pressure on Portuguese families,” continued the President of the Republic, arguing that “this has two advantages”, comparable to “two lungs”.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the first advantage is “wait until the economic situation improves”, but the government’s action to soften the interest rate rise has an “additional political advantage”in his opinion: “It decompresses the debate or part of the debate in the European elections” of 2024.
“One of the problems of a debate in the European Union that was under great pressure about the dire situation of people with high-interest mortgage loans was to encourage the growth of those protest currents that always take advantage of the most dire crises. sense, it can have two benefits,” he insisted.
Source: DN
