The PSD president lamented this Sunday that the PS “coexists poorly” with the “critical mind” of Cavaco Silva and that PS mayors, especially Luísa Salgueiro, did not have “the humility” to listen to the former president’s criticism of the republic.
“We deeply regret that the PS is not accompanied by the critical spirit of someone who has the responsibility of having ruled the country for ten years and then being president of the republic for another ten years. He is the most controlled Portuguese politician in terms of elected by the Portuguese people since April 25,” said Luís Montenegro, speaking in Vila Real, on the sidelines of the “Building the Alternative” days.”
In his statements, the PSD leader referred to the conference that took place on Saturday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Special Rehousing Program (PER), an initiative of the Chamber of Lisbon and which was harshly criticized by the former President of the Republic in related to the new “Mais Habitação” program and the actions of the socialist government led by António Costa.
During Cavaco Silva’s speech, PS mayors, namely the president of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), Luísa Salgueiro, left the room.
“And it is very symptomatic that the PS reacts badly and that, even during the session where I had the opportunity to attend, the PS mayors and especially the chairman of the ANMP did not have the humility to listen to the criticism of the government”,
In addition, he added, “as president of an Association of Municipalities, of course, mayors of her party, but also of the PSD, the PCP, of all political forces and even of citizens and independent groups, finally, have the respect and humility to listen to legitimate considerations, even if she disagrees, of President Aníbal Cavaco Silva”.
Once in the room, Luís Montenegro, in his address to the Trás-os-Montes militants, returned to the subject, accusing the socialists of lacking “democratic fair-play”.
For the president of the PSD, this attitude “shows a way of being that the PS has unfortunately instilled in the country that is too tribal with regard to democratic coexistence between political forces”.
It’s not because we’re from different parties that we shouldn’t just disrespect others. Just now I earned praise here for a country figure who was a militant of the PS, Commander Rui Nabeiro, and my relatives have not fallen in the mud for it. I deeply regret that the PS does not have the same attitude towards considerations made by people from another political space,” he stressed.
The Social Democratic chairman reiterated that the PSD “apparently” follows “the considerations made yesterday (Saturday) by President Cavaco Silva”.
Source: DN
