“We are at a moment when we must once again make the PS the greatest political force in the country. And there is no better time than the municipal elections,” stated José Luís Carneiro in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores, during a speech at a meeting with militants, where he announced his candidacy for secretary-general of the PS.
The sole candidate for the PS leadership asked the militants listening for “a special commitment,” urging them to call and talk with their acquaintances.
“Many times, there are so many things left unsaid in our lives to people, we stopped talking, we must make that effort, call our comrades, our supporters, those voters who have already voted for us but are momentarily angry with us,” he said.
He continued, “We need to reach out to them. And if we are able to reach out to them, we will again rebuild that relationship of trust with the Socialist Party.”
Before concluding his address, he recalled what Ricardo Reis, a heteronym of Fernando Pessoa, used to say: “Follow your path, water your plants, love your roses.”
“That is what the PS must do to regain the citizens’ trust,” affirmed the socialist.
In his address, the candidate touched on various aspects outlined in his motion and referenced issues related to the autonomous regions, particularly addressing the Azores and making two commitments.
The first involves contributing, through the socialist parliamentary group in the Assembly of the Republic, to a new Regional Finance Law “capable of strengthening the means and resources that embody a more qualified autonomy” and that involves “more responsibility.”
The second commitment involves advocating for the Azores “to have a say in the management and administration of sea resources.”
The session also featured a speech by the leader of PS/Azores, Francisco César, who reaffirmed the party’s commitments to the region, particularly in deepening autonomy and revising the basic law of maritime spatial planning.
César highlighted that the Autonomous Region of the Azores has “a problem with the sustainability of public accounts” and noted that the regional finance secretary of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government has already admitted “a financial rebalancing plan.”
He also addressed the aviation company SATA, which “is heading towards a situation of instability,” reminding that the party warned of the situation and is available to “extend a hand to the government” to be “part of the solution,” if deemed necessary.
Meanwhile, the coordinating secretary of PS/Azores, Cristina Calisto, expressed that José Luís Carneiro is “the right leader” for the party and considered him “a politician of causes.”
MP José Luís Carneiro is the sole candidate in the direct elections for the position of secretary-general of the PS, set for the 27th and 28th of this month, to choose the successor of Pedro Nuno Santos, who resigned following the legislative defeat.
