This support was announced by António Filipe in a social media post released this Thursday, in which the candidate expressed it was “a great honor” to have General Pezarat Correia endorsing his candidacy.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, Pezarat Correia, who was part of the Council of the Revolution, expressed his support for António Filipe, stating that he is “a man who has demonstrated great political firmness and consistency.”
“He is a man whom we know, which is not something that can be said of everyone. We know who he is, what he wants, what he desires, and the values he upholds. He has always been consistent throughout his life,” he praised.
For Pezarat Correia, a founding member of the Group of Nine, the moderate wing of the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), António Filipe, supported by the PCP, is “a person of great moderation in his positions,” even though his values are well-known.
“However, he is a man of great moderation and, notably, I believe he is a man who, as a respectable citizen, transcends party boundaries in terms of potential support,” he stated.
The general emphasized that António Filipe possesses “extensive experience” in politics, highlighting his tenure as vice-president of the Assembly of the Republic, a longstanding parliamentary deputy, and “for many years, a member of the parliamentary Defense committee,” in addition to his experience in local government—António Filipe was a councilor in Amadora’s City Hall.
“Moreover, he is not just a political figure. He is a university professor, an academic, a man with his own written works. Thus, António Filipe is a respectable citizen,” he underscored.
Pezarat Correia also noted that António Filipe stands out “significantly in comparison to the generality” of other announced candidates for the presidential elections.
When asked about Vasco Lourenço’s support for António José Seguro’s candidacy, Pezarat Correia commented that Vasco Lourenço is free to “support whoever he wants,” but criticized how he publicly shared his decision.
“Vasco Lourenço is the president of the April 25 Association, and when he publicizes his public stance in a communiqué, it might lead many people to confuse Vasco Lourenço’s opinion with that of the institution he presides over. I think that is dangerous because Vasco Lourenço’s opinion only represents himself, not anyone else in the association,” he noted.
On the other hand, Pezarat Correia believed that Vasco Lourenço made “a major mistake in his stance” by asking António Filipe and Catarina Martins to withdraw from their respective presidential candidacies.
“I find it completely inappropriate for him to invite other candidates to withdraw. It’s not commendable. Now, of course, everyone supports the people they believe in,” he said.
