Former State Secretary and President of the Coimbra Academic Association, Emídio Guerreiro, asserted during a debate on the state of the nation at the Assembly of the Republic that the PSD/CDS Government has a reformist project for the country, open to political dialogue “with everyone,” excluding only those who “self-exclude.”
Socialist Vice-President Pedro Delgado Alves completely disagreed with Emídio Guerreiro’s central argument, claiming there is “governmental alignment with the extreme right.”
“The Portuguese have realized that this Government’s immigration policy seems to align with Chega, as well as their security discourse and stance against so-called gender ideology,” stated Pedro Delgado Alves.
Emídio Guerreiro, social-democratic candidate for the presidency of Gondomar’s City Hall, countered by rejecting any association with Chega, emphasizing that “what the Portuguese endorsed in the last elections is precisely what the Government is pursuing.”
He then took an offensive stance.
“What surprises me is the refusal and self-exclusion by the PS from participating in the dialogue,” he responded, further criticizing the socialists: “They still haven’t understood what happened to them in the last legislative elections.”
“Open your eyes and genuinely engage in structured dialogue with us; come to find solutions,” he challenged.
In his initial address, Emídio Guerreiro highlighted recent economic and financial measures by the Government, such as the reduction of IRS, “tax simplification,” and the commencement of TAP’s privatization process.
Socially, he spoke of increased investments in the National Health Service, education, and security “with more resources for the PSP and GNR,” alongside adopting a “humanistic yet regulated approach to immigrant reception.”
“It is striking that the PS and the left remain unable to acknowledge the mistakes made in this domain, after having allowed thousands of clandestine entries into the country,” he accused.
Earlier, in a speech on immigration, Chega leader Rui Paulo Sousa demanded “immediate action, identification, and deportation of illegal immigrants who do not respect the laws, culture, and, importantly, women.” He questioned Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on whether “he will continue to cling to political correctness or finally accept the immigration policies proposed by his party.”
Also representing Chega, João Lopes Aleixo criticized the lack of focus on agriculture during the nation’s state debate.
In the same debate phase, Liberal Initiative’s Joana Cordeiro concentrated on health, arguing that “the state of the nation’s health is in denial of reality and all responsibilities.”
The liberal deputy argued for a “different model, the Universal Health Access System, where individuals have freedom of choice, correct incentives are aligned with providing the best care, where hospitals have autonomy to hire, to manage, to innovate, ensuring accountability and responsibility.”
Deputy Patrícia Gonçalves of Livre warned that “disinformation is increasingly replacing serious and well-founded debate,” considering it “a dangerous moment for democracy.”
