The leader of the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua, emphasized on Wednesday that regardless of the outcome of the May 18 elections, she will remain committed to the party as her focus is on “people’s lives.”
In an interview on SIC Notícias, Mortágua discussed her one-year leadership of the Left Bloc and her goals for May 18, indicating that her call to the party’s founders—Francisco Louçã, Fernando Rosas, and Luís Fazenda—was motivated by a changing world.
“There is a shift to the right, and I am very aware of it, how dangerous it is, and this makes my presence in political life much more than goals regarding my life, career, or number of votes. It has to do with the presence of the Left and the fight of the Left for the most important things in life,” she emphasized.
Regarding whether this is also measured by votes and parliamentary seats, Mortágua responded affirmatively. However, she stressed that “more important is ensuring that there is a Left in Portugal with principles, that looks at war, housing, the injustice of billionaires getting richer […] and says this cannot go on and has measures for each of these issues, which are the measures of the Left, of the community of solidarity.”
Addressing the possibility of leaving the party if the election results do not translate into votes and seats, Mortágua stated: “I will have to continue to fight.”
“The Left Bloc is a collective project, we fight for a better life […] it is a collective struggle of the Left Bloc,” she added, asserting her steadfast commitment to the party and her interest in “people’s lives.”
Debates? “I will be waiting for Luís Montenegro to come to debate”
Following statements made earlier in the day, Mariana Mortágua reiterated her desire to debate with Luís Montenegro, stressing that it is unacceptable for the prime minister to choose with whom to debate.
When asked about the difference between debating with Nuno Melo or Luís Montenegro, the Left Bloc leader emphasized the importance of “debating with the other leaders of the coalitions, the parties, that is democratic debate.”
“What we cannot accept is a candidate who is the leader of a coalition, presenting himself as a potential prime ministerial candidate, choosing who he will or will not debate with,” she noted.
Mariana Mortágua emphasized that it is “incomprehensible” for Luís Montenegro to “choose to debate with the PS, Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, and PCP, but not with the Left Bloc. There is no criterion that justifies it, other than choosing adversaries based on convenience. I will insist, I want to debate with Luís Montenegro.”
If the president of the PSD does not appear to debate with her, the Left Bloc leader warned that “democracy becomes diminished.”
When asked whether she would not debate with Nuno Melo, Mortágua mentioned that if Nuno Melo “arrives as president of the CDS and Luís Montenegro as president of the PSD, we will surely participate in those debates.”
If Nuno Melo comes as a representative of the AD, the Left Bloc coordinator mentioned she would “reflect on this issue.”
“I want to debate with Luís Montenegro, that is what I want,” Mariana Mortágua reiterated.
In the interview, Mariana Mortágua also discussed the housing crisis in Portugal and poll results that do not favor the Left Bloc.
