Former PSD leader Rui Rio refused on Tuesday to comment on the current political situation out of “common sense and ethical principles”, but said he believes the PSD has the conditions to win the parliamentary elections in March.
“Use common sense, balance and my ethical principles so that now I am modest and do not comment on what the person who succeeded me does”said Rui Rio at the entrance of the presentation of the book “This is how I see my life”, recently launched by the former President of the Assembly of the Republic and former Secretary General of the PS, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues.
Speaking to journalists, Rui Rio refused to comment on former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho’s statements regarding António Costa’s resignation as head of government and the current political situation.
“I’m not going to comment on anything related to the PSD, not even the former leader”he said.
The former PSD leader also refused to comment, considering that “there is an ethical obligation”, the decision of the President of the Republic to dissolve the Assembly of the Republic, the resignation of António Costa and the current state of the legal system.
However, Rui Rio said that he hopes that, “at a time when society is so extreme and aggressive”, his presence at the presentation of Ferro Rodrigues’ book will serve as an example.
“I think that participating in the presentation of a book by someone who has been my opponent all my life, who was my first major opponent in parliament (…) I think it is an example to present the book of a political opponent, who is not “It is an enemy, it is an opponent. Nowadays life in Portugal is very radicalized and that is why I hope with this small example to contribute to calming the situation”he claimed.
“We are all doing what is best for Portugal and in that sense we must respect those who have different ideas and today this has unfortunately become very vague. The discourse has become completely radicalized, people are behaving like tribes. There are no tribes, we have different ideas, but we must respect them’he added.
When asked whether he believed the PSD could win the March 2024 parliamentary elections, Rui Rio replied in the affirmative.
“I think so, of course there are possibilities,” However, he stated without commenting on whether he plans to return to political life or help in the election campaign.
Portugal will hold early parliamentary elections on March 10, 2024, scheduled by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, following the resignation of the Prime Minister, António Costa, on November 7, the target of an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to the Supreme Court.
The election campaign for the parliamentary elections will take place between February 25 and March 8.
Source: DN
