The leader of the liberal initiative, Rui Rocha, this Saturday welcomed the criticism of the former President of the Republic Cavaco Silva to the government of António Costa, but disagreed with the “invitation” to his resignation on the basis of a “punishment of conscience “.
“We already realize that António Costa has very little ability to address his conscience”he said and added: “We are not going to wait for António Costa to resign, because that is not going to happen. The absolute majority that António Costa has at the moment has only one goal, and that is to prevent a loss of power.” “
Rui Rocha spoke to journalists in Funchal, at a dinner with supporters of the liberal initiative, as part of a two-day visit – today and Sunday – to the autonomous region of Madeira.
“We always welcome everyone who comes now to share the diagnosis presented by the liberal initiative many months ago,” said Rui Rocha, commenting on Cavaco Silva’s speech today at the conclusion of the 3rd National Assembly of Social Democratic Mayors (ASD ), in Lisbon.
The former president of the republic accused the prime minister, António Costa, of losing his authority, adding that prime ministers sometimes “decided to resign” because of “a strike of conscience”.
In a speech highly critical of the socialist administration, which he labeled “disastrous”, the former head of state argued that the prime minister has “lost his authority” and “is not exercising the powers conferred on him by the Constitution”.
In Funchal, Rui Rocha said the Liberal initiative agrees with Cavaco Silva’s “very harsh” speech but believes it “doesn’t reach the solution”, inviting the prime minister to make a “blow of conscience” and eventually tender his resignation.
In contrast, the leader of the IL said that António Costa’s government is exhausted and complained about the “absolute degradation of the institutions”, then mocked by saying that ministers always speak on April 1 [dias das petas]because “they are systematically caught lying”.
Source: DN
