Delegates from the IX PAN Congress exchanged arguments over leadership candidates this Saturday, with the opposition criticizing the party’s stance against the PS and leaders condemning attacks on the spokesman.
During the debate period of the global strategy motions presented by the leading candidates – Inês de Sousa Real, re-candidate for spokeswoman, and Nelson Silva, former deputy member – member Rui Prudêncio defended the need to “definitely put an end to this persistent image”. in the civil society of the PAN kind of ‘Green’ of the PS” and asked the party to put up a “strong” opposition to the socialists and the government, namely with regard to the state budget (in which the PAN has abstained).
This Nelson Silva supporter defended PAN’s opening up to civil society to “bring technical and scientific knowledge into the party”, as well as “taking advantage of many people who are in PAN who have this knowledge but are despised for making not part of the ‘guest list'”.
In the same vein, Representative José Franco opined that in this one-day congress “there is no possibility to debate anything” and spoke of “first-class and second-class affiliates”.
“Those who are under the direct influence of the leadership are the first, those who cannot, those who are forced to fight for democracy in the PAN are the second. And there are still the third, who never had the opportunity for any kind because they are far from the big centers”, he criticized, as there is no “full democracy”.
Maria João Sacadura, from Faro, spoke of “hijacking the affiliations” and for Vítor Pinto, from the Setúbal district, is an abstention in the state budget to “give the green seal to the PS” and “sell the environmental cause” .
Deputy Nelson Batista questioned whether the current leadership “has not an ounce of shame” in saying it takes pride in the PAN’s social networks, denouncing that people are “arbitrarily excluded from groups” and that there are “deleted comments”.
“Today they are trying to silence people like me and B-list supporters, but the day you stop unconditionally supporting the party elite, have no doubt they will silence you,” he said, targeting adherents of the continuity list.
For supporters of the current leadership, Bebiana Cunha, a member of the National Political Commission and representative of the candidacy led by Inês de Sousa Real, denounced “attacks by affiliates on the PAN spokeswoman”, referring to the fact that she was the European Union already worried Green Party, which demanded “stability, commitment, continuity, credibility”.
“This is what the A-list brings to this congress,” the former parliament leader stressed.
Deputy Ana Lúcia criticized the opposition to the current leadership, referring to the fact that the internal stream “Mais PAN”, which supports Nelson Silva, “has a lot of strategy, a lot of internal ‘partisanship’ for a motion” and that it “lacks flame” . “.
Rafael Pinto, member of the National Political Commission, pointed out that the PAN received an invitation “in record time” to become an “associate member” of the European political party “European Greens”, which will happen “within two weeks in Vienna”. .
Margarida Paulos, a municipal clerk in Almada, criticized those who say “that the PAN should be less animalistic”, arguing that “now is the time to give more voice to the animal cause, not less”.
Liliana Vieira, from the Leiria district, defended that “to grow the PAN, it is essential to keep this spokeswoman” and the affiliate Jorge Ribeiro praised the “excellent work of Inês Sousa Real in the Assembly of the Republic”, and criticized those who “damage the image of the PAN in the public eye”.
At the end of the discussion, Inês de Sousa Real recalled that the PAN had to resubmit its candidacy for the European Green Party after the withdrawal of MEP Francisco Guerreiro and defended that participation “will be very positive” for the goals the party defends.
For its part, Soraya Ossman, number two on Nelson Silva’s list, defended that “it is urgent for the party to change its position vis-à-vis the socialist government”, pointing out that “the policy of small conquests in exchange for the viability of the national budget weakens the party’s image”.
During the debate, the President of the Bureau announced that it would be possible for the ten or so members who are not delegates and who are following the Congress in another room to be in the room where the works are taking place, which led to the supporters from the B-list received a standing ovation as they entered the venue.
A number of greetings and congratulations were also voted after the lunch break, including for the work done in parliament and the progress made in animal welfare over the past decade.
Source: DN
