“The copy [PSD] always loses to the original [Chega] (…). It is very easy to go after emotions, but when you go after emotions, there are two problems. First, emotion is often not rational, the second problem is one that is more emotional [Ventura] always win”.
Is half a word enough for the wise? In this case, says Riccardo Marchi, researcher at the Center for International Studies of the University Institute of Lisbon (CEI-IUL), visiting assistant professor at ISCTE-IUL, doctor of modern and contemporary history who has focused on the study of the radical right, “given the distance we have from the elections, the speech of the President of the Republic is more in line with what is the usual behavior of moderate center-right parties”, contrary to what “is said by Carlos Moedas and Luís Montenegro”.
The sentences uttered by Montenegro [ “É imoral uma sociedade onde as pessoas que trabalham chegam ao fim do mês e ganham menos do que pessoas que não trabalham”; “Temos que arriscar, procurar pelo mundo as comunidades que possam interagir melhor connosco, que se possam integrar melhor na nossa cultura, na nossa identidade”] and also that of Carlos Moedas [“Nós precisamos de mais pessoas, mas para isso temos de estabelecer realmente contingentes daquilo que precisamos”] appear “in a strange timing because usually, at a stage like this, moderate centre-right parties tend not to open opportunities for their more right-wing competitors so as not to give the impression that they are legitimizing them”.
So “at the moment”, and with what “is said”, is a speech by the leader of the PSD that “clearly benefits Chega”, the researcher assures.
“This discursive practice only makes sense,” he explains, “when a moderate party openly adopts a center-right project that includes the radical right. Join us.” Don’t give room to the idea of governance, because that could cause voters to leave.”
And the justification is literally political and linear: “The undecided PSD and center right who may be fascinated by Chega in the face of a discourse like that of Montenegro and Moedas, as it is natural for them to do so, may choose Chega, even if it is an equivalent and viable discourse , a discourse that enters the realm of good behaviorS”.
In other words, he assures, almost quoting Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, that “when in doubt [os eleitores] choose the original and not the copy”.
PSD strategic error? “Only if there is a strategy,” replies Riccardo Marchi. “It’s just that if it’s a strategy, it’s obvious, it’s done at the wrong time”. And moreover, he adds, it is “a very contradictory strategy within the PSD. I doubt the unanimity of the PSD leadership on this”.
It is, says Ventura, only “a portion of the PSD that will struggle (…) but it is 15% or 10%, no more than that”.
For his part, Luís Montenegro, faced with the words of the president, said: “be absolutely sure that they did not appeal to me, because the president of the republic is a sensible person, who knows me well, my moral, ethical and human values”.
When asked if his recent statements reveal an approach to Chega, he replied, “No.”
Ventura has another lecture: “Out [Montenegro]says: we are getting closer to Chega, the positions are the same, here we have the possibility of an understanding (…). But “inside” the speech is different from “warn the critics”.
About Marcelo’s warning [a cópia perde sempre para o original]Ventura Montenegro stuck even more to Chega’s proposals: “He’s not trying to imitate me (…), I think he thinks this and that’s why we have a path to understanding”.
For Riccardo Marchi, the fact that the PSD is unable to have “simplicity” to say “a clear no” to Chega is “surprising” because “this fear of the extreme right no longer exists. their speech [do Chega] much moderated, much institutionalized”.
Which means, in the researcher’s reading, “only the PSD loses, there are no electoral gains here for the PS, which is in a very complicated situation. Affairs in the government, firings, bad governance are more serious for a voter from the center than the fear of Chega”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa yesterday asked Montenegro and Moedas for “common sense” in a “subject as sensitive” as immigrants, as “highly emotional statements on matters risk being irrational”.
“The problem is not to capture the success of public opinion, to win votes to see who is more emotional on this issue – some would say more populist – but who sees the issue coldly in terms of the country’s interest, the importance of Portugal in the short, medium and long termhe claimed.
And he left a warning: “Portugal has emigrants scattered all over the world and therefore cannot apply double standards”, referring to the speech that “if they are ours, they are good, if they are others’, they are bad”.
Carlos Moedas was categorical this Tuesday: “I do not take lessons from anyone on this matter, from anyone”.
Recalling that he was “an emigrant, I married an immigrant, my father-in-law is Moroccan, my mother-in-law is Tunisian”, the mayor of Lisbon stated that what exists in the country “is not dignified and I will fight for that. I will fight exactly like a politician for this dignity of our immigration”.
Source: DN
