Former Social Democratic minister Miguel Relvas suggested on Monday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Socialist Party (PS) should bring forth the “transparency of governance,” placing it as the “major issue” in the upcoming snap legislative elections scheduled for May 18.
Commenting on CNN Portugal, Relvas noted that “the presentation of party programs always leans towards a very optimistic, very friendly direction” and that “bad news no longer exists.” He emphasized that these elections were “not desired,” and contemplated a “central issue” that should be clarified regarding the two main parties.
“The major issue that the leaders of both parties [PSD and PS] should put on the table is the transparency of governance. How are we going to govern? With whom? How?” he stated, pointing out that this is what “the Portuguese” want to know.
“We have several scenarios on the table. Are we going to repeat the same? The feeling is that it will be exceedingly difficult to have an absolute majority of one party. Also, the feeling, the perception—and that counts a lot—is that we will have a majority of the Right. That is, perhaps, the only certainty that exists today in political life,” he added.
According to the former official, the “debates are going to be extraordinarily important, particularly in an election with so much uncertainty, with so much doubt, out of time, overlapping two more elections.”
“We want to know how the country will be governed, with what rules, with what principles,” he concluded.
The snap legislative elections will take place on May 18, following the political crisis that led to the resignation of the PSD/CDS-PP Government.
