The leader of the PSD opined on Thursday that “the biggest problem in Portuguese politics is socialism” and pointed to the PS’ statistical view as the main dividing line between socialists and social democrats in Portugal.
Before a lunch with the three mayors of the PS of the Lisbon metropolitan area (Mafra, Cascais and Lisbon), Luís Montenegro was asked by journalists if he follows the statements of the general secretary of the PS António Costa, in the 50 years of the party, that populism is a major threat to democracy.
“The main problem I find in Portuguese politics is actually socialism, which has led to impoverishment, loss of opportunity, low wages, which has sent us to the tail of Europe,” Montenegro replied.
As for the allegations that the right “has envy in its DNA”, the PSD leader found it “completely misguided” and countered that what the party has “is much more ambition, more hope and more confidence in the ability of the Portuguese” . “, accusing António Costa of “applying in reverse” the socialist António Guterres’ maxim that people are not numbers.
“Dr. António Costa treats the Portuguese in numbers, but the Portuguese are not statistics,” he said.
As the ultimate example of the demarcation between socialism and social democracy in Portugal, Montenegro pointed to the way TAP has been managed and repeated, questioned again about the accusations made to the government of “axe in the institutions”, the demands of the PSD within the scope of the parliamentary committee of inquiry.
“We want access to any documentation that can clarify the land of contours based on the decision to terminate functions for just cause” by TAP’s CEO and “chairman,” who called it “strange and astonishing” find that “no one confirms the existence of any advice confirming the safety of the site”.
“We are giving the government one last chance to change its hand,” he said.
With the mayors of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, and Mafra, Hélder Sousa Silva, behind him (Carlos Carreiras arrived shortly afterwards for lunch), Montenegro reiterated the objective of strengthening municipal representation in the Lisbon metropolitan area and restoring, at the national level, the leadership of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities.
This lunch is part of the ‘Sentir Portugal’ initiative, a commitment by Luís Montenegro to spend one week a month in each district of the country, and this week is dedicated to Lisbon.
“I have felt great hope and great receptivity in the streets and very strong complaints about the actions of the government,” he stressed.
Source: DN
