O Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo asserted on Wednesday that he is the “sole” presidential candidate “truly independent,” without any “party affiliations.” From the perspective of the former Chief of the Navy Staff, candidates for Belém should “represent the whole, not a faction.”
“I am unsure whether we are competing in presidential elections or a second round of legislative elections. There is a partisanship in these Presidential elections, with each party seemingly introducing its own candidate,” he began in an interview with SIC Notícias.
He elaborated: “I believe that in presidential elections, we should be representatives of the whole, not a faction. […] Clearly, I am the only candidate truly independent, without party links.”
While acknowledging that parties “have their role,” Gouveia e Melo emphasized his belief that party ties lead to “divisions,” rather than representing the collective interest.
When questioned about the potential lack of independence in former presidents associated with parties, such as Mário Soares, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Jorge Sampaio, and even Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the admiral contended that “times have changed significantly” and those heads of state “were far superior to their political party realms.”
“They participated in the revolutionary period, were founders of democracy, and had significant independence from their parties. Therefore, they performed the presidential role without any issues. […] Currently, party-linked candidates are heavily reliant on party support to achieve the presidential position. This dependence will pose future challenges,” he warned.
Gouveia e Melo identified with Portuguese who have voted for both the Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), positioning himself in “that center and that political space.”
“I do not consider my stance precisely that of the PSD or the PS. […] Imagine the political spectrum as a plate with two balances. Where would you place the counterweight? On one side of the scale? The plate would tip; it must be centered. Only a president with a centrist view can maintain equidistance across the political spectrum to foster a different society. That is my aim,” he stated.
However, he added: “We are all Portuguese. I do not reject any vote; neither from the far-left nor the far-right, as long as they are votes from Portuguese citizens. All votes are equal. […] All Portuguese should unite for a common purpose and objective.”
“I am not worried, because there is only one important poll. That poll is on January 18, 2026”
As an example, the admiral noted that in a football match, it is challenging for a referee to perform their duties “when stuck to one of the factions.” “Independence ensures, in some way, a fairer and more balanced system,” he concluded.
“The presidential power lies in the example, the word, and the motivation it can convey to society,” he further stated.
The former Chief of the Navy Staff also claimed not to be “concerned” with poll data, which place him in a technical tie with his closest competitors, namely Luís Marques Mendes and António José Seguro, pointing out that “there are polls of all types and styles.”
“When there was a poll that placed me lower, three or four days later, another poll placed me seven or eight points higher. […] The trend of polls with a very small sample [has] great variability. I am not worried, because there is only one important poll. That poll is on January 18, 2026. Until then, we must all do our utmost with our speeches and political proposals,” he argued.
