The Left Bloc (BE) has criticized the use of Mercado do Bolhão for what it describes as a “political marketing stunt” by the PSD and its Democratic Alliance (AD). In a statement, the BE’s Porto branch lamented that the historic market was employed as the backdrop for “partisan and electioneering propaganda.”
The Left Bloc labeled the choice of Bolhão for the Council of Ministers meeting as indicative of an “arrogant” PSD/CDS coalition.
This morning, the government held its Council of Ministers at Mercado do Bolhão, where officials greeted vendors and shoppers upon arrival and departure, even distributing hugs and kisses.
The BE also noted the timing of the announcement of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pedro Duarte’s candidacy for the Porto City Council, suggesting it was no coincidence that it occurred on the day of the Council of Ministers meeting.
“Beyond all that is questionable about using Bolhão as a stage for the government’s electioneering and introducing the soon-to-be-ex-minister as a candidate for Porto, it’s a very bad joke for the PSD/AD to choose Bolhão: if it were up to the PSD and CDS, Bolhão would not exist today, and they would be holding the Council of Ministers in a commercial store,” the statement emphasized.
The BE highlighted the alleged neglect of Mercado do Bolhão by public authorities, a situation that reportedly worsened after 2002 under PSD and CDS-PP leadership of the local government.
“At that time, the political forces that make up Luís Montenegro’s government supported the terrible idea of ending the sale of fresh products, expelling vendors and traders, destroying the market, and handing Bolhão over to private interests,” the statement asserted.
The BE’s Porto branch asserted that this “political staging” seeks to claim a space that fundamentally opposes the values PSD and CDS have promoted over the decades.
“The selection of Bolhão showcases an arrogant PSD/CDS coalition engaged in a scandalous act of political propaganda, both nationally and municipally. It’s a blatant provocation to use Bolhão in this way, especially when these parties have long tried to let it fall,” the political group argued.
Similarly, the Porto District Federation of the PS today criticized the government for engaging in “electoral campaigning” during the Council of Ministers at Mercado do Bolhão, accusing it of “confusing State and party” and reminding that Portugal is not Hungary.
The general secretary of the PCP accused the government of orchestrating a “major propaganda operation” in Porto, arguing that in one stroke, it conducted a “street action,” introduced a local election candidate, and garnered support during a Council of Ministers session.
