Henrique Gouveia e Melo visited Wonderland Lisboa, a Christmas market located at Parque Eduardo VII, where he was greeted by several individuals, received commitments of support, posed for pictures, and even tried his hand at a shooting booth, learning that the key to knocking down cans was to aim upwards rather than directly at the center.
At the end of his visit, when asked by journalists whether he was used to aiming at the center, he humorously replied that he is “more accustomed to trying to lift the country upwards” and “move it beyond its current borders.”
When questioned about how the next head of state should position themselves concerning the PSD/CDS-PP government, he suggested that the president should aid the government in attaining sufficient stability and conditions to govern while being demanding with governance itself.
“If these two things are done, on one hand, it allows for national stability and development, but on the other hand, it serves an important role in representing all Portuguese people by being demanding on governance,” he stated.
Gouveia e Melo cited the recent summer fires as an example, where he observed, at the outset, “a disconnect between the concerns of the party leadership elite and what was happening on the ground.”
“I alerted to this disconnect, and that alert was enough for the situation to be reassessed, and the government reacted well. Often, the presidency must use its words and exercise those words with moderation but with significance at the right moments,” he added.
When asked if he is more capable of doing this than his opponents, Gouveia e Melo did not reference any particular candidate but emphasized that “the president is a moderator of the system and should balance the system.”
“Without political-party logic, everything I will do is focused on the State and national interests, as I will not participate in any logic that ‘power must be won now or governance should be hindered now,'” he warned, though he highlighted the important role of parties.
The retired admiral and former Chief of the Navy General Staff was also asked about a possible peace settlement for Ukraine, arguing that much of Europe’s future is at stake in resolving this conflict.
“We must all be concerned, engaged, and focused on helping Ukrainians obtain not only a dignified agreement but also one that allows Europe to stabilize in the long run. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before other initiatives and attempts emerge in different geographies that could directly affect Europe, NATO, and provoke reactions that are undesirable for all of us,” he warned.
When questioned whether the possibility of young Portuguese being sent to war could be ruled out, he replied, “No national or political leader wishes for young Portuguese to be sent into combat. We do and will do everything to avoid this.”
However, he cautioned that “fear or lack of courage to take measures that create sufficient deterrence” can be detrimental, stating that “the best way to prevent conflict is to be prepared.”
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026, with candidates including António Filipe (backed by the PCP), António José Seguro (supported by the PS), André Ventura (endorsed by Chega), Catarina Martins (supported by BE), Henrique Gouveia e Melo, João Cotrim de Figueiredo (supported by Iniciativa Liberal), Jorge Pinto (backed by Livre), and Luís Marques Mendes (supported by PSD and CDS-PP).
