Former President of the Assembly of the Republic discussed the declared candidates for next year’s presidential elections, noting that the right-wing is content and, through their commentators, is exerting pressure to prevent changes on the Left.
“I regret that by the end of July, a candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic that meets the aspirations of the Democratic Left electorate, in general, and a significant part of the PS, has not been announced,” he stated.
Ferro Rodrigues emphasized that “the issue is not just about personalities, but more importantly about programmatic voids.”
“A democratic and humanist candidacy is necessary and urgent in the short term. We hope this will happen in the coming weeks. No one is excluded from this challenge,” he urged.
When asked if he wanted to propose any names, the former PS leader mentioned he has already said “the necessary and sufficient about the Sampaio da Nóvoa hypothesis,” which he views “favorably.”
“But if it does not materialize, I believe there is a global challenge facing the entire Democratic Left, and even those who have said ‘no, never, ever’ will have to reconsider their position,” he challenged.
Regarding whether Mário Centeno, who will be stepping down as governor of the Banco de Portugal, should reconsider, Ferro Rodrigues said he did not want to “personalize anyone.”
“Portugal needs a candidacy that says no and firmly opposes the rise of extreme-right influence in the Democratic State, aiming to weaken and even destroy it,” he argued.
In the opinion of the former President of the Assembly of the Republic, a presidential candidacy must address the crisis of confidence within the European Union, now exacerbated by very dangerous concessions to the Trump administration, particularly in matters of energy and defense.
“Portugal needs a candidacy that stands against exterminations, massacres, death sentences through hunger in the Gaza Strip, and the continuous disregard for the UN in the West Bank, and commits to actively contributing to the recognition of the Palestinian State by our country,” he appealed.
Former PS Secretary-General António José Seguro is among the presidential candidates representing the Left, along with the PCP-supported candidate António Filipe.
