Former President of the Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva defended this Saturday that Portugal needs a “change that brings new hope”, since only in this way will it be possible to improve the living conditions of the Portuguese.
“I am absolutely convinced that Portugal needs a change that will give the Portuguese new hope. Without this change, based on what I have studied and how much I have thought about this topic, it will be impossible to improve the living conditions of the population. and prevent our most qualified young people from fleeing abroad,” defended Cavaco Silva.
The former PSD leader addressed journalists at the end of the party’s 41st Congress, which took place today in Almada (Setúbal district), after the closing speech of the current President, Luís Montenegro.
“It is up to the Portuguese, and I trust their wisdom, to make the decision in the next elections that will take place,” he declared.
Aníbal Cavaco Silva said that the Portuguese know his opinion “on the economic, social and political situation of the country”, which he classified as “an extremely complicated situation”.
“About six months ago, last May, I somehow anticipated the situation the country would find itself in. I even talked then, six months ago, about the possibility of the Prime Minister resigning and early elections written out,” he said.
The former President of the Republic indicated that at the same time he “said clearly” what he “thought of the political competence of Luís Montenegro” as Prime Minister.
The former PSD leader said he accepted the invitation to attend the closing of the 41st Congress because he was “an enthusiastic defender of modern social democracy and because this congress was not at stake in the choice of party leaders” .
Cavaco Silva also refused to “make political comments”, indicating that he was there “to listen to the president of the PSD”.
Asked whether the Social Democrats are obliged to win the parliamentary elections on March 10, the former leader did not want to anticipate results as “the Portuguese, with their wisdom, will make their choice.”
Regarding the possibility of the PSD joining a coalition, Cavaco indicated that he was not going to the Congress “to teach anyone a lesson, let alone the party leader”.
“And that is why I do not want to interfere in any way with the decisions that the party’s own bodies and the president can make on this issue,” he stressed.
Despite the insistence, the former President of the Republic refused to explain his statements, because his wife was waiting for him “for dinner”.
As happened upon arrival at the congress, Aníbal Cavaco Silva was escorted to the car by the president of the PSD before leaving the congress. As they walked to the vehicle, some activists clapped.
In May, the former head of state opined that the PSD leader is “as well or better prepared” to become prime minister than he was when he was head of government, arguing that the Social Democrats are “the only alternative” to the PS .
Source: DN
