Rui Tavares raised a pivotal question during the closing rally of the election campaign at the Ginasiano Arts School in Vila Nova de Gaia, located in the Porto district: “Why has Portugal been so scarcely mentioned in this election campaign? We need to have a serious conversation about it.”
Addressing an audience of about 200 people, the leader of Livre questioned the prolonged focus on the “minor scandals” involving Luís Montenegro and the “enormous confusion” related to his family’s company, Spinumviva.
In this context, Rui Tavares reiterated his criticism of Luís Montenegro, labeling him as an “online gambling lobbyist,” a field he argued contributes to addiction and financial ruin among families.
Furthermore, the Livre leader criticized the extensive television coverage dedicated to “any mishap and any nonsense from the far-right.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” emphasized Rui Tavares, as the crowd responded with chants of “present, future and Livre, free, Livre.”
He advocated for moving away from a politics driven by clichés, mini-scandals, and absurdities, urging instead that the focus be shifted to the real concerns of the people.
“We need to pull politics out of the rut it is in because poor politics can degrade a good society, and we must reverse that process,” he highlighted.
Therefore, Rui Tavares encouraged people not to fear change.
He insisted, “Don’t succumb to the ridiculous attempts to censure ideas of change.”
In a speech lasting approximately 40 minutes, Rui Tavares stated that Livre is set to grow and aims to become a pivotal party in the nation, working to diminish the far-right.
Concluding the event, Rui Tavares and the other candidates in Sunday’s election joined in singing “Grândola, Vila Morena” by Zeca Afonso.
