“I believe the left cannot afford to make errors here and concede goals that should be easy to defend. We have a very important goal to defend on our side, which is the Welfare State, the Democratic State, and the defense of constitutional rights,” stated Rui Tavares during a campaign rally in Vila Nova de Gaia, in the Porto district, where he concluded his electoral campaign.
Approached by various individuals, especially young people asking for photos and autographs, the leader of Livre, who used football metaphors, emphasized that “everything is still in play” until Sunday.
“As often said in football, Livre wants to be the playmaker, the number 10, but in addition to playing, it wants to enable others to play as well,” he stressed.
Rui Tavares highlighted that it would be “very important” for Portugal if the current fourth position of political parties were taken over by Livre, arguing that this would mean the country does not desire a “radicalized right that dislikes rights.”
Despite wanting a significant role in the team, the Livre spokesperson cautioned that “no one plays alone.”
Addressing the electorate, Rui Tavares mentioned that if the Portuguese wish to remove the president of PSD, Luís Montenegro, from Portugal’s “picture,” there is a clear governance alternative on the left with specific conditions.
“We did not come to elections for everything to stay the same, which in reality would mean everything would get worse, the country would become even more blocked,” he pointed out.
In this regard, Livre’s choice is “very clear,” meaning that, should there be a right-wing majority, Livre will be part of the opposition, as the country will need an opposition to defend the rights enshrined in the Constitution, he concluded.
