In an interview with Lusa, Seguro expressed his indignation over posters unveiled this week by Chega leader André Ventura, one of his opponents in the race for Belém, stating that “in an election campaign, anything goes to get votes.”
However, the candidate does not request the intervention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, believing it would be a form of pressure.
“Extremisms are not solutions, they are part of the problem, they are the poisons of our democracy, which need to be combated, and as President of the Republic, I will do everything, with firmness, to combat these extremisms, both through words and action,” he assured.
In this regard, and still in the pre-election campaign for the presidential elections on January 18, Seguro stated that he will promote “a convention for democracy” on the 15th of this month.
“For a democracy of trust, of opportunity, where we have the chance to value what unites us as a people in our differences, but also the opportunity to discuss democracy not only in its formal aspects, but substantively, so that people’s problems can be resolved,” he added.
Asked if it is the lack of responses to people’s problems that promotes the growth of the far-right, Seguro considers that “everyone is responsible,” although “some more than others.”
“The State, by not responding to many social problems, has caused some people to become disillusioned, first with the parties and then with democracy. There is no alternative to democracy. The alternative to democracy is dictatorships, and we do not want any more dictatorships,” he points out, considering that it is “necessary to affirm democracy.”
The former PS secretary-general stated he does not take “democracy for granted” or “as something already acquired” and therefore believes it is necessary to defend it.
“And often, on the part of the State and the political actors, there have been many attacks on democracy, with cases particularly in the area of corruption or with cases of less transparency. Those who want to serve the country and do so through democracy must be exemplary in exercising public office,” he emphasizes.
Specifically about André Ventura’s posters – with messages about people from Bangladesh and the Romani – Seguro considered them “unacceptable and deserving of repudiation.”
“I have a personal opinion on the matter, but as a candidate for President of the Republic, I do not want to put pressure on the bodies and institutions that have competences in this area. I respect these competences and hope that everyone does their job,” he responded when asked if the Public Prosecutor’s Office should act, as requested, for example, by the leader of the party supporting him, José Luís Carneiro.
Another current issue that marked this week was the approval of the nationality law, and regarding this, the presidential candidate said he wants to wait to analyze the diploma to respond on what he would do if it came to him for promulgation.
“There is one thing that worries me. It is that a diploma like the nationality law, which should last over time, and should be as consensual as possible among political actors, did not gather the contributions that the Socialist Party gave and wanted to give for this law,” he reiterates.
