The spokesperson for the PAN party, Inês Sousa Real, has criticized the leader of the PSD for refusing to engage in debates with smaller parties, attributing this to “the wear on Luís Montenegro’s image,” and accusing him of “dodging responsibilities.”
“He responds poorly to democratic plurality. It’s crucial that these diverse views are confronted with the political agenda of the Prime Minister, since we continue to have an agenda strongly marked by setbacks, which is absolutely conservative and fails to provide answers,” Inês Sousa Real stated in an interview with SIC Notícias.
When asked whether the party fears losing parliamentary representation as happened in Madeira, Inês Sousa Real replied, “We are not afraid.” She believes that Portuguese people still relate to the “highly humanitarian” causes championed by PAN.
“It is clear that we have the responsibility – and I in particular, as the spokesperson and sole deputy – to ensure we continue to give voice to these values. I am aware that the Parliament would be significantly poorer without a party like ours, representing these causes,” the PAN spokesperson affirmed.
The primary goal for the upcoming Legislative elections is to “recover a parliamentary group,” as achieved in 2019, although she admits that the “very short governmental cycles” do not provide “stability for parties like PAN.”
“We should be discussing the problems affecting the lives of Portuguese citizens, but given the country’s current instability, it’s important that these elections highlight the different agendas of the parties, including PAN’s. It was through PAN that victims of domestic violence gained access to Porta 65 for housing. At this moment, our main concern is to secure more strength in the next mandate,” added Inês Sousa Real.
Last week, the spokesperson attributed the loss of representation in Madeira’s regional parliament to political instability and strategic voting, asserting the belief that the party will maintain its presence in the Assembly of the Republic.
PAN – People-Animals-Nature lost its sole representation in the Madeira Legislative Assembly after failing to elect any deputies in the early Legislative elections.
The third Legislative elections in Madeira in about a year and a half took place last Sunday, following the approval of a no-confidence motion presented by Chega, justified by judicial investigations involving members of the Regional Government, including President Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), and the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly by the President of the Republic.
