Henrique Gouveia e Melo, a presidential candidate, accepted a noose from the regional leader of ADN in Funchal today, only to return it immediately, suggesting it be used to “hang anti-science ideas.”
“I accept it, but I will return it to you. Do you know why? So that you can hang your ideas of denialism, flat-Earth theory, and climate change denial,” he stated, before taking leave of ADN leader Miguel Pita with a “good morning and thank you very much.”
Gouveia e Melo was approached by the regional coordinator of the National Democratic Alternative at the entrance of the Mercado dos Lavradores in central Funchal during a visit to the autonomous region that started Friday and concludes Sunday in Porto Santo.
The candidate interacted with several locals and vendors but made no further reference to the encounter with the ADN leader.
Miguel Pita explained his intent was to question the admiral on his changed stance, considering that in 2021 he stated he would make a “terrible politician,” and thus requested a rope to hang himself should he enter politics.
The regional leader of ADN also aimed to challenge the candidate regarding the NRP Mondego crew members who refused a mission in Madeira in 2023, questioning if he would treat the Portuguese similarly by “judging and condemning them publicly.”
Regarding this matter, the Supreme Administrative Court published a ruling at the start of May, dated April 30, declaring the sanctions imposed by the Navy on the ship’s military personnel following a failed 2023 mission illegal when Gouveia e Melo was the Chief of the Navy Staff (CEMA).
The court dismissed the military branch’s appeal, which contested an earlier decision by the South Central Administrative Court that had already nullified the sanctions imposed by the Navy for supposed insubordination of 11 out of 13 accused personnel, including four sergeants and nine ranks.
The ADN regional coordinator also wanted to address with Gouveia e Melo the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, citing his own case of remaining “alive and healthy” without vaccination, in contrast to many who “believed and complied with the plan” he led.
On Friday, the first day of the regional visit, Henrique Gouveia e Melo met with the president of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, and visited the construction site of the new Central and University Hospital of Madeira.
“I am here to get to know the region better, to speak about other topics I previously did not address as a Navy officer, and to understand the problems the regions face,” he remarked at the time.
When asked if he would like the support of the island’s executive head, Gouveia e Melo replied that he does not formally seek “support from anyone, nor from institutions,” adding that what matters is the support of the Portuguese people.
Today, the candidate is participating in a dinner with supporters at a restaurant in Câmara de Lobos, after visiting the Autonomous Natural Gas Unit of the Socorridos, part of the Sousa Group, and the São Lázaro dockyard in Funchal, where he learned about projects developed by ARDITI – Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology, and Innovation.
