During a conference in Lisbon about Mário Soares, titled ‘Soares and the Left – Conflicts and Convergences’ organized by the Res Publica Foundation, Augusto Santos Silva briefly addressed this topic.
The former President of the Assembly of the Republic stated, “The outcome of the legislative elections only makes it more evident” that the Socialist Party (PS) should seize the opportunity of the presidential elections “to assert a significant electoral movement in favor of democracy, because that is what is at stake today and that is what a President can most contribute to.”
At the end of the conference, when questioned by Lusa about who could lead this movement, Santos Silva responded, “I notice that none of the candidates who have come forward seem to prioritize this, so it is necessary to continue trying to find someone who can lead it.”
Regarding his potential candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections, the former parliamentary president, who has never ruled out this possibility, said, “I have nothing to add to what I have said.”
When asked if he still believes António Vitorino might run for President of the Republic, he deferred the question to the former European Commissioner: “António Vitorino will speak when he sees fit.”
