Leonor Beleza, former Minister of Health and current President of the Champalimaud Foundation, delivered a speech at a campaign luncheon organized by the AD coalition—composed of the PSD and CDS-PP parties—exclusively attended by women supporters.
Reflecting on past milestones, Beleza recalled addressing the inaugural PPD congress 50 years ago at the request of its leader and founder, Francisco Sá Carneiro, focusing on women’s rights.
“These coalition parties have prioritized these concerns for decades; we don’t need lessons from others, nor do we offer them,” she stated.
Beleza urged the women of the AD and their independent supporters to provide the necessary support to Luís Montenegro on Sunday so he can fulfill his agenda.
She emphasized that the AD coalition uniquely combines efforts to protect the most vulnerable while empowering those capable of generating wealth, such as businesses and institutions.
“We wish for the AD government to continue on its current path, ensuring stability,” she appealed.
“Let’s prepare for a major victory this coming Sunday,” she concluded.
Previously, Rita Júdice, head of AD’s Coimbra list and Minister of Justice, praised the incumbent prime ministerial candidate, affirming, “I have witnessed Luís at work.”
“I know Luís works effectively, aligning the team towards a common goal (…) We understand the cost to our country of having leaders who hesitate or act rashly,” she remarked.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the top candidate for AD in Leiria and Minister of Youth, highlighted that the coalition chose to end the campaign with a women’s gathering.
“Leonor Beleza, our PSD vice-president, is my role model. She has dedicated her life to advocating for equal opportunities between men and women, easing the path for my generation,” she noted.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes stated that the PSD and CDS are open to external engagement and have the capacity to attract high-quality, independent women, like her colleague in government, Rita Alarcão Júdice.
Her speech underscored the persisting income disparities between men and women, prioritizing domestic violence prevention and safety.
Earlier, JP leader Catarina Marinho argued that her generation refuses to be sidelined, aspiring to construct a future founded on freedom. She criticized the PS for its failures, stating, “After eight years of promising equality, they only exacerbated disparities.”
“Neither the PS nor the PCP has ever elected a woman leader. What moral authority do they have to speak on equality? I reject moral lectures. I stand for Christian democracy’s values, humanist principles, not superficial ideals,” she commented, indirectly alluding to Chega: “A future of noise and prejudice isn’t what we seek.”
