Pedro Duarte, the former minister of Parliamentary Affairs and current candidate for the presidency of Porto City Council, is set to appear at the Clube dos Pensadores on Tuesday, September 2, at 9:30 PM, at the Holiday Inn Porto-Gaia.
“Pedro Duarte is a candidate in Porto representing the coalition of PSD/CDS-PP/IL. He was an effective minister of Parliamentary Affairs in the previous government led by Luís Montenegro,” stated Joaquim Jorge, who has been leading the Clube dos Pensadores initiative since 2006.
“By running for Porto, some suggest that an excellent minister may have been lost, but an outstanding city council president might be gained,” he added.
In a statement, Joaquim Jorge remarked, “If there weren’t so many candidates, especially Filipe Araújo,” Pedro Duarte would have a “much easier victory.” “As it stands, there’s uncertainty, and he is neck-and-neck with Manuel Pizarro,” he noted, referring to the Socialist Party (PS) candidate for the Porto City Council.
“The main rival of Pedro Duarte is Manuel Pizarro, who is running for the third time in Porto. Will the third time be the charm?” he questioned.
The statement also emphasized that Pedro Duarte is “very critical of the first phase of the Boavista metrobus project and does not rule out assessing its reversal or profound alteration.”
Another “sensitive topic” for Pedro Duarte in Porto is the “diversion of trucks from the VCI.” In addition, Joaquim Jorge highlighted that if the former minister “is elected president, he will take responsibility for the culture portfolio.”
This marks the second appearance of Pedro Duarte at Clube dos Pensadores, following his participation in the initiative’s 12th anniversary.
