At a rally in Vila Nova de Gaia, Paulo Raimundo addressed complaints heard by the leader of the PSD, Luís Montenegro, during a campaign event in Setúbal. Retirees confronted the prime minister with concerns about low pensions and cuts made during the ‘troika’ period.
“Sooner or later, reality asserts itself. And, for those who have doubts, no matter how much propaganda, no matter the proclamations, no matter the peddlers of illusions, reality always imposes itself,” stated the communist secretary-general.
Referring to Luís Montenegro’s campaign event at Mercado do Livramento in Setúbal, Paulo Raimundo remarked that the prime minister faced “a dose of reality” as he listened to the grievances of the retirees.
“Luís Montenegro bit the bullet. He had to face reality as it is. He went to meet the people, and the people responded with the harsh reality of hardship and difficulties, because, unfortunately, that is the reality of our people,” he added.
During his remarks, the secretary-general of the PCP recalled previously mentioning that not all retirees receive free medications and that not all benefited from the solidary supplement for the elderly, highlighting that the CDU does not speak “recklessly about the problems” and challenges faced.
“Today, the retirees confronted Luís Montenegro with this reality. How did Luís Montenegro respond? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” he said.
In his speech, Paulo Raimundo also referred back to the luncheon of former PSD leaders held on Tuesday, stating that the country does not need advice or so-called reforms from [former prime ministers] Pedro Passos Coelho or Cavaco Silva.
“The country doesn’t need the policies of the PSD nor CDS, nor does it need the willingness of the Socialist Party to always lend a hand in advancing this same policy,” stated the communist leader.
According to Paulo Raimundo, Portugal requires “an upheaval.”
“The country needs a force that turns the board to interrupt this rigged game, where, at the end of the day, the same ones always win,” he declared.
