On the final day of the electoral campaign for the legislative elections, leading candidates from their respective parties in Braga crossed paths on Rua do Souto. Rui Rocha was beginning his last street gathering before addressing supporters at a rally dinner in a city nightclub.
The two groups, each comprising several dozen activists, though the PS contingent appeared larger, engaged in a good-natured contest, with supporters loudly chanting either ‘PS’ or ‘liberal’.
Amidst PS’s white and yellow flags and IL’s blue ones, Rui Rocha and José Luís Carneiro exchanged pleasantries. The IL leader welcomed the former Minister of Administration of PS by saying, “Welcome to Braga,” acknowledging Carneiro’s roots in Baião, while Rocha hails from Braga.
“No, I’ve been here for a long time. Good work and strength,” responded José Luís Carneiro with a smile.
Among Carneiro’s entourage was Palmira Maciel, the secretary of the Assembly of the Republic’s Board, whom Rui Rocha also acknowledged. The PS group offered roses to Rocha, who declined them.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, the chants were somewhat passive-aggressive, with a PS activist taunting IL members, particularly Rocha, calling him “a snob” who “doesn’t know what work is.”
In subsequent remarks to journalists, Rui Rocha stated that he politically and democratically greeted José Luís Carneiro but noted, “IL is heading in one direction, while PS is moving in the opposite.”
“We’re headed towards the future, while PS is steering the country towards stagnation,” he added.
When asked if he wished José Luís Carneiro good luck in the elections, Rui Rocha replied, “No, I don’t wish him good luck.”
“I’m a democrat. I listen to ideas, democratically greet everyone, but I wish good luck to IL, as it’s the only way to change the country,” Rocha stated.
Early in the street gathering at Praça da República, Rocha met Paulo Sousa from the Movement for Citizenship against Indifference, who gifted him a t-shirt that read “on the 18th, do as I do, vote,” which Rocha promptly wore.
During a brief conversation, Paulo Sousa expressed concern over high national abstention rates, around 40%, but mentioned Braga as an exception, with only a 28% abstention rate in the last legislative elections.
Throughout the gathering, Rocha visited several local businesses, including a tourist souvenir shop where he previously purchased two tablecloths that, he said, he often uses in his Lisbon home.
“They’re going to be the surprise of the year,” the shopkeeper remarked, with Rocha adding that the tablecloths he bought “were useful and will bring luck.”
Amid the sound of drums and dozens of IL members in blue shirts and party flags, Rocha stopped midway at a café, sitting outside to drink sparkling water.
Rui Rocha reiterated to journalists his belief that the election results would “bring growth to IL” and assured that the party would “always rise to the occasion with a sense of responsibility” post-elections.
“IL is on track for its best result in legislative elections,” said Rui Rocha, who, when asked about his final message to the Portuguese on the last campaign day, responded with “Confidence.”
[Updated at 7:27 PM]
