“I welcome André Ventura’s candidacy, as I democratically welcome all candidacies, but the objectives of these two are radically different. André Ventura is running to represent a portion of the Portuguese people. I am running to represent all Portuguese people,” stated Marques Mendes during a visit to the Lajes Base on Terceira Island in the Azores.
Marques Mendes, who is visiting the Azores, also noted that, in terms of attitude, his run for the presidency, supported by the PSD, is “completely different” from that of André Ventura.
“My candidacy is the candidacy against radicalism, the candidacy of moderation, the candidacy of the center, the candidacy of experience, and the unification of all Portuguese people,” the candidate emphasized, adding that he is in the race for Belém with the goal to “unite” rather than “divide.”
During the visit to the U.S.-utilized Lajes airbase on Terceira Island, Mendes was also questioned by journalists about whether a revision of the bilateral agreement between Portugal and the United States, concerning the compensation for using that military facility, is necessary.
“A few years ago, there was a certain nightmare in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and also in the country, with the possibility of the Americans closing their military detachment at Lajes Base,” recalled the PSD candidate, remembering that “fortunately, that nightmare has passed” and that the news is “now very positive.”
He believes that military conflicts in the Middle East, between Israel and Palestine, and war in Eastern Europe, between Russia and Ukraine, have given a new “geostrategic importance” to Lajes Base, which it previously lacked.
“The American presence at Lajes is solid, necessary, and holds an importance it did not have before; therefore, the Azoreans and the Portuguese should be pleased,” emphasized Marques Mendes, who sees no “priority” at the moment for revising the Lajes Base agreement, suggesting that doing so would be akin to “shooting ourselves in the foot.”
André Ventura stated that “it was not his desire” to run for Belém, but justified that it would also be a way to lead the opposition. The Chega leader criticized the candidates.
