The former president of the republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, questioned on Wednesday the spending of “thousands of millions” of euros in Portugal on projects with “highly questionable” social profitability, while in other areas they are needed “to alleviate the suffering” of the most needy population.
“Why are billions of euros being funneled into projects and decisions with very low social profitability in our country, very debatable, while these billions are missing in other areas to alleviate the suffering of many Portuguese,” asked Cavaco Silva in Figueira da Foz.
Speaking at a luncheon commemorating the 183rd anniversary of Misericórdia – Obra da Figueira, the former head of state and former prime minister of three PSD governments argued that the amounts referred to are “directed to other projects”, which he did not name.
The funds are being used “without even presenting us with any studies on whether it wouldn’t be better, in terms of social welfare, to channel them into alternative uses,” he said.
At the end of the lunch, questioned by the Lusa bureau about the said projects, Cavaco Silva refused to list them and make further statements, justifying his position on the “very dangerous” political situation in the country .
“I have often been asked to speak about the political situation in our country. But I believe that it is not the time for me to speak, because I believe that our political situation is very dangerous at the moment and I want to don’t throw axes at the fire,” stressed Cavaco Silva.
“That’s why I apologize for not adding anything more than what I just said on that microphone,” he underlined.
During the speech, Cavaco Silva emphasized the role of Mercy, municipal councils, solidarity institutions and volunteers in fighting poverty and helping the most disadvantaged.
“In a country like ours, where more than two million Portuguese are in a situation of poverty or social exclusion, we can imagine how serious the social situation would be without the work of the Misericórdias and other institutions of social solidarity,” said the former President of the Republic.
A work he classified as “discreet, often silent, not always properly recognized by the government,” he stressed.
“In fact, the government should pay very special attention to those who spend much of their time, their generosity, time that should be devoted to the family, many volunteers, contribute to alleviating the situation of suffering, poverty and, sometimes , food shortages,” he claimed.
Source: DN
