Paulo Raimundo attended a rally in Coimbra, where in these municipal elections, PS, Livre, and PAN have formed a coalition led by former minister Ana Abrunhosa, opposing another coalition consisting of PSD, IL, and CDS-PP supporting José Manuel Silva, the current mayor.
In a speech at this rally, the PCP general secretary stated that there is an attempt to convey the notion that in Coimbra, there is only a “contest between two” in these municipal elections, referring to the confrontation between the coalition of Ana Abrunhosa and that of José Manuel Silva.
“And if we want to be precise, there is indeed a contest between two profoundly different projects. On one side is the project that, with this or that difference, in essential matters, is fundamentally the same, and on the other is the distinct project of the CDU,” he said.
Paulo Raimundo argued that the CDU’s project is “the project of public housing, sports, culture, transport, environment, cooperation,” challenging “the project and programs of speculation, wheeling, and dealing, that politics serving a few.”
Before several hundred CDU militants, Paulo Raimundo declared that in the current electoral context in Coimbra, the key issue “is not who wins,” although acknowledging that it is not irrelevant.
“The central question is who will be there, who will be there to fulfill, as [current CDU councillor in the city, Francisco] Queirós did, who will be there to denounce, who will be there to pave the way,” he asserted.
In his speech, Paulo Raimundo sought to counter the idea that the left-wing parties joining a coalition represent the forces of convergence, emphasizing that the CDU is composed of communists, ecologists, and “many independents, even people from other parties.”
“The CDU is the great force of unity, the great force of convergence,” advocated Paulo Raimundo, highlighting that the independents on the CDU’s electoral lists “are not here for the photo.”
“This is the strength of unity that brings together very different people, not in search of protagonism, personal projects, or seeking positions. Here, we are all different, but equal in service and solely at the service of the populations,” he defended.
During his speech, Paulo Raimundo also directed several criticisms at the government, particularly criticizing the fact that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro admitted last week that there might be an extraordinary supplement for pensioners should there be a budget surplus.
Pensioners “do not need crumbs when there is leftover money from that which the government, Chega, and IL have handed to large economic groups with the reduction of corporate tax. We do not need crumbs. Those who have worked a lifetime (…) deserve dignified pensions,” he insisted.
Before Paulo Raimundo, Francisco Queirós, a CDU councillor in Coimbra since 2009 who is running for reelection in these municipal elections, addressed the CDU militants seeking to avoid concentrating votes on the left-wing coalition.
“On Sunday, in Coimbra, 11 councillors of the municipal executive are elected. It is not an election for Zé or Maria to become mayors. It is much more than that, much deeper than that. What is at stake is the election of 11 councillors,” he stated.
Francisco Queirós maintained that “with more votes, with more elected in parishes and municipal bodies,” the CDU “can do much more and better for Coimbra.”
“It is in our hands to engage in conversations with everyone, to talk with everyone,” he encouraged.
