In a televised debate between the coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE) and Paulo Raimundo during the pre-campaign for the May 18 legislative elections on RTP3, numerous convergences were observed. The BE leader used the platform to criticize the Socialist Party (PS) Secretary-General on issues such as housing—accusing him of “giving up on people”—and immigration, where she claimed he was “dragged along” with right-wing policies.
When asked about the potential for post-election agreements with the PS, neither party leader ruled out the possibility but both set conditions for any breakthrough.
“The understanding depends on the policies. The BE presents priorities in the elections, and we’ll be here to talk with the PS and all deputies who genuinely want a cap on rents, a fair fiscal policy, and truly respect those who work shifts,” responded Mariana Mortágua.
The BE coordinator regretted the emphasis on “mathematics” in these elections and pointed out “an elephant in the room”: “The shift to the right that the PS is making in these elections, hoping to secure the support of the PSD if it ends up with one more deputy than the PSD.”
“The question we must ask is whether PS with PSD or PSD with PS will do together what they didn’t do separately,” she indicated.
The Secretary-General of CDU argued that the country needs anything “but a continuation of the policy being followed,” which he said is not exclusive to the PSD/CDS-PP Government.
“All those who want to come this way and break with the current path can count on us. Those who think that 2029 is the right time—excuse the expression—for the National Minimum Wage to be set at a value that is already practiced in Spain today, are not seeing things clearly,” he remarked.
