Prior to a meeting with Iratxe García Pérez, the leader of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, held this afternoon in Lisbon, José Luís Carneiro was asked by journalists about the announcements made by Alexandra Leitão and Duarte Cordeiro that they do not intend to continue in the PS National Secretariat after the elections for the PS leader.
“I said that I want to rely on all those who wish to help the Socialist Party at a difficult time like the one we are experiencing, and I am convinced that we will have many leaders and many responsible figures accompanying the efforts being made,” he initially responded.
When pressed by journalists on whether he fears these two leaders might form a “shadow leadership” against him, the candidate for the PS general secretary dismissed this idea.
“In fact, Duarte Cordeiro informed me that he currently has projects of a different nature, namely professional projects, but I will count on him in the Socialist Party’s bodies. I can say this because I was conveyed his availability and that of other comrades,” he mentioned, declining to answer further questions on these topics.
Regarding the meeting, Carneiro, accompanied by Marta Temido, coordinator of the Portuguese delegation in the European Parliament, noted that there was “a reflection on some of the fundamental issues” of collective life, such as the economic and social development model, technology challenges, and the digital and energy transition.
“The discussion also includes the defense of the rule of law, the appreciation of the democratic framework, and the defense of freedoms and fundamental rights. This is one of the subjects being discussed today by Portuguese deputies and their European counterparts here in Lisbon,” he emphasized.
For José Luís Carneiro, it is necessary to “bring positions closer and strengthen the defense of values.”
“Portuguese society does not want to look to the future and see images as those we are seeing in other societies, starting with the one that was a reference until very recently, namely American society,” he pointed out.
