The PSD chairman rejected in an interview with CNN Portugal on Friday that the party could make government appointments or have the support of “racist or xenophobic, opportunist or populist policies or politicians”.
In an excerpt from the interview already available online on the television station’s website and broadcast in full from 10 p.m., Luís Montenegro was challenged by journalist Maria João Avillez to clarify relations with the Chega party.
“I want to guarantee the Portuguese one thing: we will not have racist policies or politicians in government, nor xenophobes, nor opportunists, nor populists. Or political support, if you like”assured the chairman of the PSD.
Luís Montenegro also added that he will not have the political support of those who have “demagogic populist views”: “And above all, I don’t want immaturity or irresponsibility in my government,” he added.
In this excerpt, the Chairman of the Social Democrats reiterated that he understands – contrary to what the President of the Republic has said – that the PSD is already an alternative to the PS government.
“There is an alternative and I am the alternative, with my party, the PSD. This is so clear that even the argument used and what is worth what it is worth, that of the polls, implies precisely that this alternative exists”he said.
Luís Montenegro will have an audience with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa this Tuesday, after a week in which they publicly disagreed over whether the PSD is now an alternative to the government.
The President of the Republic again ruled out the possibility of dissolution at the beginning of the week, citing the situation and the lack of “an obvious alternative in political terms”, and Luís Montenegro indirectly responded to Marcelo two days later Rebelo de Sousa, who had assured that he was not in the pocket of either the government or the opposition.
“The PSD and its leader are not in anyone’s pocket, they have complete independence in their political action and the PSD assures the country, the Portuguese and the President of the Republic that it is an alternative to the PS government and that we are ready to accept all the consequences of an alternative when it is expedient”Montenegro said Wednesday.
A day later, the head of state promised to warn if one day he changes his position on the issue of the political alternative and the break of the legislature, faced with the statement of the PSD president that he is ready to form a government to be.
“If I have to say another position of the president on this issue, I will say (…) There are many opinions. The position of the president, who has to decide, is the president”Marcelo added.
Source: DN
