At the conclusion of the National Commission meeting of the Socialist Party (PS) held today in Lisbon, the first since the election of José Luís Carneiro as the party’s secretary-general, Carlos César was asked by journalists about the presidential elections scheduled for next year.
“The Socialist Party may take a formal position, and it is natural that it does. The last National Commission outlined this possibility as the most likely, to express support, but the Socialist Party does not control the votes of its members, let alone the votes of its voters. There will only be a recommendation on this matter,” he emphasized.
The PS president deferred the decision on this topic to a National Commission meeting after the local elections on October 12.
When asked if it is natural for socialists to already be supporting Sampaio da Nóvoa, who has not yet announced a candidacy, Carlos César said he views “all options that the Socialist Party members wish to make in the presidential elections as natural.”
“There is nothing unusual in this matter, as there isn’t in other parties. I know people from all political parties who might, perhaps, hold different opinions from each other within the same party concerning their choice of presidential candidates,” he noted.
Emphasizing that he has “always had an option on all matters” and never hid “in any circumstance of civic or political life in the anonymity” of his decision, the PS president admitted that “the last time” he supported Sampaio da Nóvoa.
“On this matter, I will speak when I believe it is appropriate. Especially since I am the president of the Socialist Party. Being the president of the Socialist Party, I am also the president of the National Commission, which will be precisely the body where this matter will be discussed. Therefore, what I have to say will be at that time or after that occasion,” he mentioned.
