Luís Marques Mendes was the guest speaker at the PSD/CDS-PP conference, held in Évora until Tuesday. The former PSD president has already secured his party’s backing for the presidential elections scheduled for January next year, a stance yet to be decided by the CDS-PP.
In his address, Mendes reiterated his pledge that, if elected, he would fight for political stability and make poverty alleviation one of his primary causes, even suggesting the convening of an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting on the matter.
“We all need to make an effort, everyone, without exception, from the right to the left, to be a tolerant society. Today there is some excess of radicalism here and there. We must promote moderation,” he advocated.
He cited immigration as an example, differentiating between action and rhetoric.
“After years of uncontrolled immigration, it was inevitable to take measures, like several that were undertaken. With some courage, even measures like ending expressions of interest,” he stated, defending the PSD/CDS-PP’s approach to this issue.
However, in rhetoric, he expressed a desire to advocate moderation, which he viewed as a “sign of maturity,” beginning by highlighting immigration as an opportunity.
“It is an opportunity. Some think it is a problem. No, it is an opportunity if it is regulated and handled with proper integration,” he asserted, believing it should be perceived this way for a country losing population, for the Social Security revenues, and for companies needing labor.
Mendes also argued that Portugal has a responsibility to the immigrants who have come to the country in recent years “because the authorities allowed it.”
“It is not fair, correct, or true to always blame immigrants whenever a problem arises in the country, be it in housing, security, or any area… We should not adapt to this small-minded discourse,” he appealed.
During his approximately 25-minute address, Marques Mendes highly praised the PSD parliamentary leader, Hugo Soares, whom he described as “one of the most talented in contemporary politics,” also acknowledging the presence of Health Minister Ana Paula Martins at the dinner.
Before a room filled with PSD and CDS-PP deputies and leaders, the former social-democratic leader reiterated the importance of stability, claiming it is “not a sufficient condition for success, but a necessary one.”
“Today the conditions for governance are better than they were, but stability still needs to be ensured. It’s no coincidence that the Constitution mentions a four-year government, a legislative term,” he stated, pointing out that this applies to any government, whether left or right.
Therefore, he promised that if elected, maintaining stability would be a priority, doing everything possible to “avoid motions of censure, avoid votes of confidence, and assist parties in negotiating State Budgets.”
On the international front, he acknowledged “risks ahead,” mentioning the threats of “the irrelevance of the United Nations” or the “total confusion” in commercial tariffs, but argued that “the time is not to throw in the towel.”
“The time is, above all, to roll up sleeves. That is, in every difficulty, we must see a new opportunity,” he appealed.
