Former leader of the Left Bloc (BE), Catarina Martins, officially announced her candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic in Porto on Saturday.
“I am running to be the President who nurtures democracy – a strong democracy that permeates every aspect of our lives: schools, businesses, communities. Active democracy that calls upon us at every age and circumstance. It is time to raise this surge. We have the strength within us to do it,” stated Martins.
She added: “Only democracy embraces life – there is a politics of death and a politics of life. This is the choice of all eras.”
“I present myself as a candidate for President of Portugal with my life and experience in full. Here I am as I am.”
Throughout her speech, Catarina Martins reiterated that “it’s not too late,” neither for the country nor for the world.
“Do not believe those who say it is too late. That’s the great trap of those who triumph through the people’s abandonment,” she remarked.
“It is not too late, nor is Portugal too small to be the voice of peace and international law in the world,” she added. “These values are inscribed in the history of our democracy and form my foundation. Knowing who we are and where we come from is the ground from which democracy arises.”
“I conclude with an appeal and a commitment. An appeal to make this movement a place of meeting and convergence. This candidacy is not defined by party boundaries,” she assured. “My commitment is absolute: in this candidacy, there will be space for all those voices.”
