Presidential candidate Jorge Pinto stated today that it is “almost offensive to say that the adherence to this strike is insignificant” and accused the government of not listening to the workers.
The candidate was commenting on statements made by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, noting that these are the words of “a government that clearly does not listen to the workers, does not listen to the people.”
“What this government has done, and has done repeatedly, is not listen. Not listening to political parties in the Assembly of the Republic, not listening to workers and their representatives, and once again today, not listening to those who decided to strike,” he stated to SIC Notícias at the sidelines of the demonstration taking place this afternoon in Lisbon. “It is with surprise and some sadness that I hear these statements from Leitão Amaro, but, in truth, they follow a line of action that involves not listening, believing they have an absolute majority in the Assembly of the Republic, and that everything they want to do can be done.”
“A President of the Republic must ensure the unity of the country and must ensure something very important: that the Portuguese people are heard, that the political parties are heard,” he emphasized. “And regarding labor changes, the interests of the workers must also be heard, and this has not happened.”
For Jorge Pinto, participating in the demonstration is not incompatible with the office he is running for: “A President of the Republic has to be present, and I want to be present where the Portuguese are,” he explained.
“Today I am at a demonstration in favor of workers’ rights because a President of the Republic should be there. A President of the Republic is impartial, but is impartial in representing the population in its diversity. A President of the Republic will not govern, will not execute policies, but will also influence them. It will send a signal to the country about what policies it wants for the country. I want policies where it is worthwhile to be a worker, I want work to emancipate. I want work to be something worthwhile. I am not here against anything, I am here for something, and that is the dignity of all workers in Portugal,” he concluded.
