“This is a three-way negotiation, and a good negotiation is when everyone compromises for a goal,” stated the candidate, referring to “Government, unions, and employers.”
During a pre-campaign event for the presidential elections on January 18, Luís Marques Mendes refrained from commenting on the Prime Minister’s remarks. The Prime Minister had argued on Friday that the general strike planned for next week “does not make sense” from the workers’ perspective and has political motivations.
“The strike is legitimate, unions have the right to strike. Will it cause disruptions to people? Of course, it will. But the strike is legitimate,” defended the candidate for Belém.
The candidate, supported by PSD and CDS-PP, emphasized that “the most important thing is that even after the strike there continues to be negotiation between the Government and the UGT and, evidently, the employers.”
Marques Mendes urged that “doors should not be closed” and considered the recent developments as “very positive.”
“It’s not just positive, it’s very positive. Both the Government and UGT have made it very clear they are willing to continue negotiations even after the strike. This is what I have always asked for and, therefore, I am satisfied,” he expressed.
“Three weeks or a month ago, the atmosphere between the Government and the UGT was very tense. I even feel, in a way, the responsibility to have contributed a bit to easing the relationship when I publicly requested several times that the Government pay more attention to the UGT. Currently, the atmosphere is relaxed, and I can only be satisfied,” he noted.
Regarding the impacts of the general strike on December 11, the former PSD leader said that “a strike always creates problems, and a general strike creates more problems than one that is not general,” but he affirmed that the unions have “surely considered all this.”
“For me, the most important thing is that this is a setback in a negotiation process, and the important thing is that the negotiation process is not jeopardized, that there continues to be social dialogue and negotiation. And that part seems to be guaranteed,” he said.
Concerning the specific changes the Government wants to implement, Marques Mendes clarified that “a President of the Republic only comments on a law when it is approved,” noting that currently “there is only a draft that will evidently undergo numerous changes.”
“At this moment, I have no opinion on this proposal because that would be noise. I will only have an opinion when the proposal becomes law,” he indicated.
Today, Luís Marques Mendes visited Wonderland Lisboa, a Christmas market in the area of Parque Eduardo VII, accompanied by some of his grandchildren. During the visit, he greeted several people and took photos with them, and some wished him luck for January 18.
On the occasion, the candidate was also asked about health and reiterated that the Government should present results, notably concerning emergency constraints or the assignment of family doctors.
“The government governs. The President of the Republic should be exacting and cooperative, cooperating to ensure governance has results, whether with this government or any other, and demanding results,” he stated.
“I think it is important to start demanding results in various domains because the government has been in power for a year and a half, and people really want an improvement in the situation. Health is one of the greatest concerns,” he emphasized.
