A candidate in the presidential elections, supported by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), emphasized the need for political will to address housing issues during a meeting with leaders of the Porta a Porta movement outside the former Ministry of Education building in Lisbon, where a government project for a public student residence was abandoned.
António Filipe asserted that without political will, housing problems remain unsolved, arguing that the market alone cannot address these challenges. He stated that the President of the Republic must play an influential role with governments to ensure effective housing policies are implemented.
“Social inequalities do not fall from the sky. Portugal cannot continue to have an economy based on low wages, and fundamental rights like the right to housing cannot be solely dependent on market rules. There must be public intervention, and the President of the Republic, in my view, has a duty to intervene with governments,” he argued.
When questioned about whether such influence exceeds the bounds of a Head of State, the former communist deputy clarified that the President cannot replace governments but has a “magistrature of influence” that should be exercised.
António Filipe cited the power to veto initiatives he disagrees with as an influential tool that the President of the Republic should use when necessary.
“The mere fact of the President questioning the legislation holds political significance that governments can hardly ignore. And I believe that in the face of serious issues like housing access, it is the President’s duty to raise the alarm when policies do not solve the problem,” he added.
The communist candidate emphasized that the President should do more than lament and should drive governance to solve issues like housing. He praised movements like Porta a Porta for their efforts in advocating for housing access in Portugal.
André Escoval, spokesperson for the Porta a Porta movement, accused the current government of exacerbating housing problems and announced new national protests in the context of discussions on the upcoming State Budget.
