The presidential candidate Gouveia e Melo stated the necessity for both economic flexibility and job security during a visit to Livramento Market in Setúbal. “On one hand, we need to be flexible because the economy has changed, but on the other, we cannot make work precarious. Human beings are not commodities to be traded; they are the foundational element,” he remarked.
Gouveia e Melo urged the government to find a balanced solution, emphasizing the importance of social consensus over internal social conflict. “The economy cannot leave anyone behind,” he stressed, adding the need for broad participation in the process of changing labor laws. He warned companies to focus on more than just shareholders, considering broader societal impacts.
“Companies today cannot only worry about shareholders. They must consider workers, the environment, the market itself. This is a different kind of capitalism. The unrestrained and wild capitalism has not worked in other societies,” he stated.
He advocated for a balanced solution as the best path for the country, urging the government to refine its proposals for labor law changes. He is convinced that consensus is the key to progress.
When questioned about the November 25 celebrations, Gouveia e Melo identified as “a man of November 25,” acknowledging its role in preventing a leftist dictatorship in Portugal. He compared it with April 25, which marked the end of the old regime, while November 25 corrected the revolution’s initial exuberance to establish today’s solid democracy.
During his visit, marked by condolences for a couple killed by bad weather in Fernão Ferro, Seixal, Gouveia e Melo was approached by several people, some explicitly promising him their vote in the presidential election set for January 18, 2026.
