“Unfortunately, what we see in all geographies is that, more and more, it is necessary to form political alliances between different parties, rather than competing ‘proudly alone.’ Because if we really want to make a difference in politics, it is necessary to know how to dialogue, to know how to make concessions, often regarding candidacy options,” said Inês Sousa Real to Lusa.
The PAN today launched its own candidacy for the Maia City Council, led by Paula Neves, in the Porto district, while also supporting candidates from other parties both on the left (as with the socialist Alexandra Leitão in Lisbon) and on the right (such as the social democrat Cristóvão Norte in Faro).
Inês Sousa Real dismissed suggestions that these supports demonstrate a duality of criteria, stating that, in her view, “local dynamics, which are always very particular,” cannot be ignored.
“In the Faro coalition, PAN supports Cristóvão Norte because he is an undeniable figure in the animal cause (…) and, I recall, he was one of the authors of the law that criminalized mistreatment of companion animals in Portugal in 2014. He has also been an ally and voted alongside PAN, for example, when we proposed the abolition of bullfighting in the Assembly of the Republic. A vote that earned him a disciplinary process at the time,” explained the party leader.
About a week ago, Carlos Macedo from the National Political Commission of PAN announced his resignation from the party, accusing it of being “without direction, completely adrift,” and criticized some of the party’s coalitions.
“After the incomprehensible agreement, in 2023, with the PSD and CDS in Madeira, PAN repeats the disaster this year by joining the coalition for the local elections in Faro with PSD, IL, and CDS. Yes, the CDS, the CDS that gives everything for a bullfight. But if in Faro the coalition is with the PSD, CDS, and IL, in the neighboring municipality it is with Livre and BE. What a lack of coherence,” he stated at the time.
Inês Sousa Real considered that the coalition in Faro provides the opportunity to bring political forces like Iniciative Liberal and CDS to “approach the PAN’s policies and what PAN advocates for the animal cause.”
“What we want is precisely to transform society and also awaken other political forces to our concern with the environment, with animals, and, as is evident, with a more just and even sustainable society in terms of development, where we have economic progress that actually leaves no one behind but has a vision of sustainability and green economy that is often not present on these parties’ political agenda,” explained the PAN spokesperson to Lusa.
