In statements to the press during a visit to the “Óbidos Vila Natal” event, the candidate supported by PSD and CDS-PP expressed that “Portugal being considered this year, among 36 of the most developed countries in the world, as the one in first place, is excellent news.”
“For the Portuguese, who are constantly bombarded with negative news, this is positive news,” he added. “I think this news is one of the most extraordinary things the country can have,” he emphasized, stating that “it increases self-esteem and ambition.”
Luís Marques Mendes noted that “it is also good news for the government, as it acknowledges the correctness of various governmental decisions.” “I believe it’s difficult for Portugal to have such good, positive, and ambitious news like this, and I think we only have one thing to do: continue to pedal harder, never stop, intensify and reinforce to have a greater spirit of ambition, ambition, ambition, ambition, I think that’s the right word at this moment,” he argued.
The candidate for the Presidency of the Republic also mentioned that this recognition by the British magazine The Economist should positively impress “everyone, whether they are supporters of the government or the opposition.” “For a very simple reason: they are all Portuguese, they all love Portugal, and this kind of news from an independent entity that is neither from the government nor the opposition generates self-esteem, greater confidence in the country, and more hope for the future.”
Marques Mendes stated that the country needs “a transformative spirit, a reformist spirit, with balance, always thinking of everyone.” “This is the case with labor legislation,” he exemplified, saying “it is necessary for everyone to make concessions in the name of balance – the government, employers, and unions” and defending that “in all reforms, there must always be these two words, balance on one hand and ambition on the other.”
“We need to have ambition, and this result today unveiled by The Economist gives us ambition, but at the same time we need to have balance, because no one can be left behind,” he said.
He exemplified that the most dynamic sectors of society, such as young people, need ambition, but the more vulnerable sectors, such as the elderly, pensioners, and retirees, need attention.
“That’s why I say, ambition on one hand, balance on the other, this is the way forward,” he justified.
The candidate for Belém in the presidential elections on January 18 was also questioned about the statements of the Prime Minister and leader of the PSD, who on Saturday raised the salary targets for the country, now speaking of a minimum wage of 1,600 euros and a medium wage of 3,000 euros.
“I found it ambitious. But what’s the problem? It could even have been on the day of the strike, or even the day before. The important thing in what the Prime Minister said was the ambition to grow by 3 or 4% per year. This is an ambitious discourse; I like a Prime Minister with ambition,” he highlighted.
The former PSD leader considered these goals realistic if the country “pedals.” “Is there anyone against it? I think from now on we have to make a demanding effort for these objectives to be achieved, but we should be happy with these objectives, which are ambitious goals,” he defended.
Luís Marques Mendes was in Óbidos (district of Leiria) today, interacting and taking photos with several people and receiving wishes for good luck in the January elections.
The candidate took the opportunity to drink “half a ginjinha” in a place where this drink is traditional and toasted Óbidos, “a beautiful land.”
