For Marques Mendes, this is a time for “unity, because a leader’s mission is to unite and not divide,” as well as for “supporting firefighters, civil protection, local authorities, populations affected by the fires, and solidarity with the grieving victims.”
“But attention: Everything in life and everything in democracy has a time. And this is not yet the time to make a balance, an evaluation, or to make criticisms, no matter how legitimate and pertinent they may be,” he stated, in full disagreement with Gouveia e Melo, who also on social media rejected the notion that discussing fires constitutes “political opportunism” or that discourse should only occur “after the combat.” He even accused political leaders of being in a bubble of cynicism in the face of “terror.”
Marques Mendes aligns with the statements of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, at the Festa do Pontal in Algarve, declaring this is the “moment to win the war” against fires and only afterward to reflect and evaluate.
In the accompanying text to the social media post, Marques Mendes expressed his solidarity with the affected populations.
“My recognition to the indefatigable Portuguese firefighters. The country must be united in this fight,” concluded the former social-democratic leader, who was the first to announce his candidacy for President of the Republic.
