“Admiral Gouveia e Melo pretended not to know José Sócrates. Pretended or didn’t know him at all, I don’t know. But he said he had nothing to do with the support from José Sócrates, nor with this group associated with José Sócrates. But, apparently, this group of José Sócrates is gathering around Admiral Gouveia e Melo,” stated Ventura to journalists before a visit to local commerce in Amadora.
André Ventura referred to the news that former Lusa president and ex-director of JN, Afonso Camões, who was until today the campaign representative in Castelo Branco for Henrique Gouveia e Melo, resigned from his position.
Today, in a social media post, Afonso Camões renounced the role, justifying the decision by not wanting to harm the candidacy of the former Chief of the Naval Staff, after “a columnist and a newspaper” decided to “resurrect an illegitimate phone tap over 10 years old.”
“Yesterday [Monday], we found out that the famous Afonso Camões from meetings with José Sócrates, the attempt to influence the press, from JN, was the campaign representative for Gouveia e Melo in Castelo Branco. Today, apparently, he comes to resign. He comes to resign because he was found out, because the disguise of this group has been uncovered. I mean, let’s pause for a moment and start realizing what kind of President of the Republic we want to have,” Ventura emphasized.
On Thursday, Gouveia e Melo declared that he dispensed with the support of José Sócrates, a day after the former prime minister announced he would vote for him.
“I saw Gouveia e Melo very troubled by support from José Sócrates, but apparently all of Sócrates’s friends are with him. So this also needs to be clarified and I think this also needs to be addressed during a presidential campaign. I think those leading the race have a special responsibility to tell the truth to people and be transparent with people,” he argued.
The leader of Chega also took the opportunity to criticize Luís Marques Mendes, whom he describes as “a crutch of the Government.”
“Frankly, I think I am in a battle with two opponents that represent the worst of the system in this matter. One brings all the Socratic baggage with him, everyone follows, including Sócrates himself. Doctor Marques Mendes brings all the web of interests and corruption of the system with him as well,” he claimed.
In statements to the journalists, Ventura repeated his wishes for the President of the Republic’s “quick recovery.”
“I know that the energy he has and the strength he has will quickly allow him to return to the political arena. That’s what I wish and what I believe all Portuguese people wish at this moment, political differences aside,” he expressed, seeing “no reason” for the President to be replaced “by anyone.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was admitted to Hospital de São João in Porto on Monday night after feeling unwell, indicated the Presidency of the Republic.
The President underwent surgery for an incarcerated hernia, had a good night, and may be discharged on Wednesday, announced this morning by the president of the Local Health Unit of São João (ULSSJ), Maria João Baptista.
“I haven’t yet had the opportunity to speak with the President, but, as far as I know, he is in full intellectual and physical capacity, there is no reason for any substitution. The Constitution is very clear on this. I think we should wait for the President to quickly recover and return to his normal institutional life,” she concluded.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026.
