“To be the candidate or not to be the candidate of the system depends on what the system is. If the system is defending ethics in political life, then I am a candidate of the system with great pleasure because I think that’s good for the country,” said Marques Mendes to journalists on Terceira Island in the Azores, at the end of a visit to Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo.
The former Social Democratic minister and PSD president continued, “And I did so because, 20 years ago, to defend ethics, I ‘ran’ with some mayors from my party who had serious legal issues.”
“Now, if this is being part of the system, defending ethics, then I am of the system, and I believe that system is good for the country. If being of the system is to constantly be concerned about stability, as I am, the country needs to be stable, solid, sustainable, then I am of the system because I think it’s good for the country to have stability,” he added when questioned about references made to him in this regard.
The presidential candidate stated that no one offends him by calling him a “candidate of the system”: “I am very proud to be of the system that defends more ethics in political life, more stability for the country, and along the way, the defense of freedom and democracy.”
He also admitted that, at this moment, the issue of the presidential elections might be “a bit confusing” to people, due to the country undergoing a presidential pre-campaign and a municipal campaign, but everything “will start to become clearer after October 12.”
For voter clarification, in his view, television and political debates, which will occur “in November and December,” will be important.
“Therefore, there is still a lot of time; everything will become clearer after the end of the municipal elections, and I believe there is still plenty of time for clarifications,” he predicted.
Asked whether another presidential candidate might still emerge, Marques Mendes said that such a possibility will not arise: “A residual candidate might emerge, but a candidate with political electoral relevance, I believe the system is stabilized.”
The former minister in the governments of Cavaco Silva and Durão Barroso, speaking to journalists on Terceira Island in the Azores, argued that the President of the Republic “must closely follow, just as he follows various other issues, just as he meets with the prime minister every week, he should also ensure greater coordination between central power and regional power.”
In his opinion, a way should be found, even if informally, provided that the presidents of the Regional Governments (Azores and Madeira) agree, so that “between the President of the Republic and the presidents of the Regional Governments there is a constant, permanent dialogue, periodically, to obtain more information, more knowledge, and so that the President himself can exert his influence alongside the governments of the Republic so that things do not remain unresolved.”
Marques Mendes visited Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island today, where he said that social institutions are “family” to him and acknowledged that the institution has various social offerings in a “financially sustainable” manner.
