“The idea that there was no corruption during the dictatorship is science fiction. [It only] didn’t come out because there was censorship,” said Marques Mendes, speaking to journalists at the end of a visit to the Monte Pedral Association in Porto.
The former PSD leader argued that anyone who claims there was no corruption in the past is whitewashing the old regime, referencing his opponent in the race for Belém, André Ventura, the leader of Chega.
This afternoon, during the general debate on the 2026 State Budget in the Assembly of the Republic, André Ventura reiterated an idea he introduced on Friday in an interview with SIC, that to put an end to corruption in Portugal, “three Salazars” were needed.
Asked about André Ventura’s statements, Marques Mendes said he did not want “to talk more about that person.”
“I hold the following belief, and I think this sums it up: this man, due to his style, his language, and his ideas, will never be President of the Republic. Believe me,” he reiterated.
Marques Mendes, who is dedicating the day to social institutions in Porto, insisted that “all the statements by André Ventura” demonstrate that he cannot and will not become President of the Republic.
When questioned further about the support expressed by the president of the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), Nuno Morais Sarmento, for his candidacy, Marques Mendes admitted to being surprised, yet pleased.
“Surprised because I wasn’t even remotely expecting it, despite having enormous respect and consideration for Dr. Nuno Morais Sarmento, and pleased because, evidently, the reasons for the support give me a lot of confidence and hope, and I was obviously happy,” he expressed.
“It’s another of the many endorsements, either more right-wing or more centre-left, that I have, and that’s how a candidacy is built,” he concluded.
