“I find it very strange that content, which is scientific fact and obviously fundamental to be taught to students, is being removed,” Mariana Leitão stated to journalists at the Palácio de Belém regarding the changes the government intends to make to the Citizenship curriculum.
The IL leader asserted that “the State must not take sides in any ideological matter” but should “ensure the best possible education [for students], in a comprehensive manner, appropriate to their ages.”
“I find it strange that content such as sexual education has been removed, which is a deeply scientific, factual issue, and obviously important for students to learn according to their age,” she noted.
However, Mariana Leitão emphasized that she prefers “to wait and see what comes out of this review the Government has announced and which is now under public consultation,” before speaking in more depth.
“I do not wish to comment based on potential speculations or information that is not as reliable as possible,” she stated.
Regarding the Health Minister’s reaction to the report by the Inspectorate-General of Health Activities (IGAS), which indicates that the death of an 86-year-old man in Bragança could have been avoided during an INEM strike, Mariana Leitão said this situation justifies the need for a parliamentary inquiry committee into the institute’s functioning.
“It is essential we thoroughly investigate what is happening at INEM, what caused all these situations, and determine political responsibilities,” she said.
Concerning a possible resignation of the Health Minister, Mariana Leitão noted that it is up to the minister to “assess her own conscience” and decide if she remains “calm, as she claims to have been.”
Mariana Leitão also mentioned that she met Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to pay respects after being elected IL leader on Saturday and highlighted that her party presented a bill today to end “political appointments for regulators, particularly in the case of the Bank of Portugal,” advocating instead for selection through public competition.
The IL leader stated that the goal of the proposal is to end the “revolving doors,” considering this was evident in the appointment of the current governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno.
“Therefore, I also challenge the prime minister to ensure that in this new appointment, which will obviously still be by appointment, it is guaranteed that no appointment is made based on party affiliation or political closeness, but rather someone competent for the role,” she challenged.
