During a visit to a microalgae and sea salt production facility in Olhão, Faro district, Rui Rocha addressed comments made by the PS secretary-general, Pedro Nuno Santos, who labeled the AD as an “explosive mix in terms of radicalism and attacks on the welfare state.”
“Let me say to Pedro Nuno Santos: the explosive element is his negotiation period with BE and PCP during the ‘geringonça’ era, particularly with BE, which at that time included members of the FP-25 in its election lists,” accused Rui Rocha.
The IL leader emphasized, “That is what is explosive, that is what is radical.”
He further stated, “Radical is aligning with parties that propose nationalization packages and suggest that Portugal should leave NATO. Those are truly explosive relationships.”
Rui Rocha challenged Pedro Nuno Santos to have a “serious discussion” by analyzing “how it was possible to align with a party like BE, which had unrepentant convicted terrorists from FP-25 on its lists” — referring to the former FP-25 members who were pardoned in 1996, except for those involved in “crimes of blood.”
When asked if there was anything radical about IL’s project, Rui Rocha responded, “There is economic growth, solutions for the Portuguese, challenges, and leadership in ideas.”
“The danger is Pedro Nuno Santos knows very well that with IL leading the country’s solutions, Pedro Nuno Santos and PS will spend many, many years in opposition. That is the danger Pedro Nuno Santos and PS are talking about,” he claimed.
Rui Rocha also addressed comments from former PS minister Duarte Cordeiro, who challenged Luís Montenegro to clarify how far he is willing to compromise if a possible agreement with IL is reached.
In response, the IL leader suggested that Duarte Cordeiro and the Portuguese “should ask all the questions and receive all the clarifications on different issues,” and issued a challenge to Pedro Nuno Santos.
“It would be good if he expressed whether he is willing to compromise on a set of measures that will delay Portugal even further and what he is prepared to concede in the unlikely scenario where he would have to align with these outdated, radical parties with solutions that have never worked anywhere,” he challenged.
Founded in April 1980, the far-left armed organization Forças Populares 25 de Abril (FP-25) operated between 1980 and 1987, responsible for 13 deaths and numerous attacks.
On March 1, 1996, nine years after the dissolution of the organization, the Assembly of the Republic approved amnesty for the imprisoned elements of FP-25, excluding those convicted of so-called crimes of blood.
[Article updated at 6:43 PM]
