At 10:41 a.m., Paulo Vieira, from the organizing committee, commenced the proceedings, which started slightly ahead of schedule with many seats still vacant at the sports pavilion. The convention’s slogan, “Pride in freedom, fight for equality,” stood out in blue, red, and white.
Posters urging participation in the general strike on December 11 were placed at the pavilion entrance, where former deputy José Manuel Pureza arrived as scheduled at 10:00 a.m., followed by current coordinator Mariana Mortágua, who is stepping down at this convention.
From today through Sunday, the 609 elected delegates will discuss the party’s strategic direction, approve statutory changes, and elect the new leadership, expected to be coordinated by José Manuel Pureza.
This morning, former deputy José Manuel Gusmão is steering the convention’s activities.
The review of the approximately two-year term and the presentation of five political motions will dominate the first day of the National Convention. This occurs during one of the party’s most critical moments, as it faced a parliamentary reduction to a single deputy in the last elections.
The political direction motion proposed to the convention, motion A, linked to the current leadership, attributes the loss of electoral base confidence to the “shift to the right” and also to “own mistakes,” such as “ambiguous communication.”
After 26 years, the BE will transition from a “movement” to a “party” as part of the statutory changes being debated at the convention, which will also approve changes to member duties.
Amendments include “acting with respect and civility” and “refraining from conduct that harms the public interest or violates fundamental rights.”
