Inês Sousa Real, speaking at an early morning campaign event for the May 18 legislative elections at the Casa da Música metro station in Porto, emphasized the essential nature of the peace message from the new Pope, highlighting its significance in efforts to re-establish peace in war-torn countries. “The humanitarian crisis we see in places like Palestine or Ukraine, with children dying, even from hunger, underscores the urgent need for a collective effort to negotiate peace,” she stated.
Regarding defense investments, the PAN spokesperson advocated that for every euro spent on defense, an equivalent amount should be allocated to social action. She remarked, “We cannot neglect the protection of our infrastructures. Countries like Germany have adopted decisions that the PAN has been advocating since the beginning. The recent blackout in our country indicates the necessity of such measures.”
Real expressed the need to adapt and invest in the protection of major infrastructures such as hospitals and airports, which are essential for the country, irrespective of war or climate change scenarios. She warned, “The war phenomenon can threaten our national sovereignty, but we must also prepare for climate changes.”
When questioned by journalists about NATO’s proposal for a five percent increase in defense budgets, Inês Sousa Real responded that it is not reasonable to demand the same investment level from all countries. “Portugal does not have the financial capacity that other countries possess, facing significant challenges in housing, education, and health sectors,” she explained.
During her visit to a family health unit on Thursday, Real observed disparities in services among different units. She noted, “People often feel that the country progresses at varying paces, and we cannot overlook the persistent asymmetries in Portugal. We do not support the ambition for a 5% increase, as it is excessive given the country’s capacity. The Portuguese want a reduced cost of living and improvements in their quality of life, while allowing Portugal to remain competitive in other areas.”
Real emphasized the importance of competitiveness in cybersecurity, training, humanitarian actions, and production of equipment such as drones, without compromising the quality of life, which should be the main focus. “We must also remember that combating war and ensuring peace involves our national energy sovereignty. Having a renewable energy plan and investing in energy autonomy can reduce the European Union’s dependency on Russian gas,” she added.
A total of 21 political entities are participating in the upcoming early elections, including AD (PSD/CDS-PP), PS, Chega, IL, BE, CDU (PCP/PEV), Livre, PAN, ADN, RIR, JPP, PCTP/MRPP, Nova Direita, Volt Portugal, Ergue-te, Nós, Cidadãos!, PPM, PLS, and, with lists in one or both autonomous regions, MPT, PTP, and PSD/CDS/PPM.
