During a visit to Bragança, António José Seguro acknowledged the challenges faced by the interior of the country in terms of accessibility, healthcare, and education.
The candidate for Belém attributed one of the causes of depopulation in these areas to the “very centralist vision” adopted by successive Portuguese governments.
“Few governments have viewed the inland areas as spaces of dynamism and contributors to our country’s economic growth,” he criticized.
António José Seguro argued that “there is no national project involving the interior, and many people regard it as a burden,” whereas “there are fantastic opportunities.” He emphasized that “the diversity of our territories offers contributions for diverse and plural growth of the country.”
On the subject of a potential electoral law change to grant more representation to interior deputies in parliament, Seguro noted the existing understanding that “representation in Portugal is proportional to the number of voters,” meaning fewer voters result in fewer representatives for a specific region.
In his view, this method “makes sense” within the current political system. However, he stressed that it should not hinder a strategy and investments aimed at developing the country’s interior.
“Even with the current government system, conditions exist to aid the development of the interior if there is awareness and priority given to it,” he stated.
On a different note, Seguro expressed that governmental inaction in this regard encourages disengagement among the Portuguese. “What people expect from politics is finding solutions for a better life. When they encounter, many times, unfulfilled promises and disappointments, they naturally withdraw,” he observed, advocating for “fewer promises and more action.”
