Presidential candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo acknowledged on Monday that he has reviewed the latest version of the Foreigners’ Law, scheduled for discussion on Tuesday, September 30, at the Assembly of the Republic.
When asked whether it addresses the Constitutional Court’s concerns about unconstitutionality, the admiral stated, “no,” and added, “the experts say the issues are not entirely resolved.”
The former Chief of Staff of the Navy suggested that, initially, the country should focus on “regulating entry” into Portugal.
“Which entries are beneficial, what kinds of people are needed for our economy, what integration challenges will follow, and how can we either grow with these individuals or potentially create issues,” he enumerated as questions that should be answered at this early stage, stressing that Portugal needs immigration but must be selective.
He also warned, “We cannot use immigration to lower Portuguese labor costs as it would be detrimental to the economy. We should use immigrants to expand the Portuguese economy.”
Concerning the use of this topic in future presidential debates, particularly by André Ventura, known for his controversial stance on immigration, the admiral stated he would rely on “logic.”
“There might be attempts to play on people’s emotions. I rely on people’s reason. Perhaps emotion can trump reason, but I operate with logic. Implementing feasible strategies is preferable to outlining or demolishing plans that are impossible to carry out,” he stated.
“Immigration is crucial, needs regulation, but integration is necessary to prevent micro-societies within our society that can eventually disrupt or cause problems to our wider community. That is logic. It is different from asserting: ‘all immigrants are harmful and must leave.’ That is not logic; that is emotion,” Gouveia e Melo pointed out, labeling such emotional claims as “hate speech.”
“If we focus on emotions, we will suffer. Portugal will become poorer: unable to pay future pensions, leading to a fragile economy and growth issues,” the candidate emphasized.
Drop in Polls Was a “Myth”
In another segment of the interview, Gouveia e Melo expressed that Portuguese citizens “want the truth,” committing to always be truthful to Portugal.
“I believe the Portuguese population desires truth,” the admiral stated in an interview with CNN. “They are tired of insincere politicians hiding reality. I reveal the truth and state facts. That is my stance, whether or not it pleases the Portuguese,” he asserted.
Addressing his drop in one of several polls regarding Portuguese presidential elections, Gouveia e Melo downplayed the results, highlighting that the referenced poll surveyed only about 350 individuals, making its conclusions fairly insignificant.
“This dip in the polls is a myth propagated through a survey of 350 people. This myth was amplified by television and analysts who wish for my decline in the polls—more wishful thinking than reality,” he assured, noting that “a subsequent poll with 2,000 responses did not show this decline.”
“There was an attempt to create an effect—it succeeded indeed. I must commend the strategist behind that effect, but I am not worried because the true survey occurs on January 18, 2026,” he concluded.
Gouveia e Melo concluded the interview saying, “I present my proposals, remain loyal, transparent, and clear about my intentions. Should the Portuguese deem me worthy of their trust, I am here to support them. Otherwise, I will pursue other endeavors.”
