At the closing rally of the AD – PSD/CDS-PP Coalition, which concluded before 9 PM, Luís Montenegro reviewed several policies from the government he led over the past eleven months and pledged to continue these initiatives.
Addressing both the youth and the elderly, Montenegro delivered a message of assurance during his speech on a stage surrounded by young people.
“We want them to feel secure, confident in our solemn commitment that in Portugal, no pension will decrease in value. All will increase, every year, every pension. It is a commitment of honor,” he stated.
Montenegro further promised to continue enhancing the Elderly Solidarity Supplement and, “when public finances allow,” to provide an “extraordinary supplement” to pensioners receiving the lowest amounts.
“I am aware that some would have liked us to make this commitment permanent (…) But we will not jeopardize the sustainability of Social Security or the payment of pensions, as some would have liked us to do,” he said, indirectly referencing his main opponent, PS Secretary-General Pedro Nuno Santos, without naming him.
Despite echoing previous messages, Montenegro received the loudest applause at Campo Pequeno, which had a sizable audience, for his remarks on immigration.
“Those who follow the rules are welcome here. We will receive them with dignity and humanity, open-heartedly. However, let there be no doubt, those who do not comply with the rules, who are not legal, will have to leave Portugal,” he declared.
Montenegro emphasized the need for rule enforcement, stating, “rules must be respected.”
“And there must be consequences for those who do not comply. A society with rules and no consequences for rule-breaking becomes chaotic, which is what was left to us in the case of immigration,” he asserted, earning significant applause from the thousands attending the closing rally.
At various points, the audience chanted for a “majority, majority,” but Montenegro stayed true to his campaign script, seeking stronger governmental conditions to implement his program.
“Thank you all, you can be sure, Luís is going to work, Luís is going to work harder and harder, Portugal will not stop, we will continue to transform the country and enhance well-being,” he said, referring to the campaign’s anthem, which urges people to “let Luís work.”
The Prime Minister also praised the enthusiasm he claims to have witnessed in the streets and from his entourage over the last 15 days.
“We haven’t seen a campaign like this in many years, it’s been many years since we felt such enthusiasm,” he said.
