Speaking to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic during a debate on the program of the XXV Constitutional Government, Socialist deputy and leadership candidate José Luís Carneiro was questioned about Luís Montenegro’s promise to maintain “frank dialogue” with the PS while opening discussions with other forces.
“The prime minister has said he wants to soar above, but we want him to know where to land and avoid inappropriate locations that compromise democratic values,” José Luís Carneiro responded to the media.
The socialist assured that the PS would adopt a “firm, responsible” opposition stance, serving as “an alternative to the Government and a constructive opposition.”
“What I’ve tried to convey, as you heard, is that Luís Montenegro needs to clarify which partner he wants to dialogue with. We understand from his words that he will assess the terms for this dialogue. We will now wait for that assessment,” he added.
At the start of his remarks, the former Minister of Internal Affairs praised the efforts of security forces and services on a day when the Judicial Police (PJ) dismantled a far-right militia, seizing hundreds of munitions, military weapons, and explosives.
The “Disarm 3D” operation, which resulted in the arrest of six individuals from the Armilar Lusitano Movement (MAL), began in 2021 and, as José Luís Carneiro noted, “allowed for the identification of some enemies of democracy, threatening the democratic rule of law.”
“I want to express my special appreciation for the security forces and services, particularly the Judicial Police, for concluding their work in bringing those responsible for attacks on the fundamental values of our Constitution to justice,” he praised.
Carneiro was also questioned about the prime minister’s announcement that by the end of the year, the Government plans to initiate roles for 1,500 members in the GNR and PSP, considering these to be “good decisions.”
“Everything related to strengthening human, logistical, material, and technological resources to empower security forces and services will have the full support and readiness of the PS to assist in this effort,” he assured.
The socialist stressed that “countering those who seek to undermine citizens’ confidence in the democratic society, in the free space, in the defense of citizens’ rights, freedoms, and guarantees, is a duty of all democrats.”
Moments later, Livre spokesperson Rui Tavares also commented on this PJ operation, stating it marks “a decisive step” and valuing the work of security forces, hoping they “never lack resources.”
Rui Tavares lamented that during the first part of the Government’s program debate, running until Tuesday, “multiple mentions of insecurity” were made without the “political courage to acknowledge where the rising insecurity originates from in recent days.”
“It clearly stems from sectors linked to the far-right, which are organized, with groups and sub-groups, some of whom are known by obscure names and revealed during investigations,” he pointed out, regretting recent assaults by far-right group members on actors from the theater company A Barraca or a citizen in the historic center of Guimarães, whom Tavares claims is a member of Livre.
[News updated at 2:18 PM]
