The electoral campaign kicked off this Sunday, concluding its first day with a debate featuring the eight party leaders. The discussions covered various topics, including immigration, health, housing, and Spinumviva.
Beyond this evening debate, the day was bustling with activity from north to south, as the leaders initiated their campaign for the election set for May 18. Voters opting for early voting can register for the process starting today through Thursday.
Below are some of the key statements that marked this first day of the campaign:
“The issue surrounding immigration by AD and the Government aims solely at competing with Chega, aligning with Chega since there are no differences in policies and notifications for voluntary departure this year as they have been practiced in previous years.”
Pedro Nuno Santos, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS)
04-05-2025
“There is a problem with the opposition in Portugal right now: they are very focused solely on criticizing the Government. I have been in opposition before, and sometimes I acknowledged the Government’s achievements.”
Luís Montenegro, President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD)
04-05-2025
“The law is evidently meant to be upheld by everyone, and when it is not, there are notifications for voluntary departure. In 2019, for instance, these notifications exceeded the 4,500 we currently know of; thus, there is no difference. This time we have a prime minister who claims that people should be expelled from the national territory, saying so with a smile while asking Chega to praise his policy.”
Pedro Nuno Santos
04-05-2025
“The left has no reformist intent. It is responsible for bringing the country to decades of stagnation. It is time for a truly reformist center-right solution, and for that, the right vote is for Iniciativa Liberal (IL).”
Rui Rocha, President of Iniciativa Liberal
04-05-2025
“No one wins the elections before election day, and no one can change their vote the day after May 18. That is why I urge you to give it your all. We must continue this work that values people.”
Luís Montenegro
04-05-2025
“What does Luís Montenegro want with the elections? He seeks absolution, to place voters in the position of judges, trying to make us say that none of this matters, that this is all normal, which is what he is trying to convey to us.”
Rui Tavares, Spokesperson for Livre
04-05-2025
“We can be called destructive, because if that means destroying, eradicating all corruption in our country, then yes, we are destructive, we are absolutely destructive in Portugal.”
André Ventura, President of Chega
04-05-2025
“I believe there are two ways to lose an election: one is with dignity, by speaking the truth and defending one’s ideas, then accepting the democratic scrutiny of the Portuguese. The other is acting like a castaway clinging to lies in an attempt to survive. That is what Pedro Nuno Santos does.”
Rui Rocha
04-05-2025
“We know what they did under the leadership of Passos Coelho [former Prime Minister] during the budget crisis at the time: they cut salaries, pensions, and social expenses.”
Pedro Nuno Santos
04-05-2025
“It seems that the current Government plans to send 4,500 illegal immigrants home. There are two million here, but only 300,000 are employed.”
Nuno Simões de Melo, lead candidate of Chega in the Guarda electoral district
04-05-2025
“Oratory is pointless when it is the same people who refuse to combat instability, low wages, gender pay discrimination, and profoundly deregulated work hours.”
Paulo Raimundo, Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)
04-05-2025
“The Socialist Party (PS) asks for one more vote to then govern with the votes of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The PSD asks for one more vote to govern with PS votes. The central bloc does not distinguish itself and does not serve us. What serves us is the strength of solutions, which is the Bloc of the Left.”
Catarina Martins, MEP and former coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE)
04-05-2025
“Who can center governments, which have ruled the policy until today, really complain about, if not themselves, for having flung the doors open to the far-right?”
Mariana Mortágua, coordinator of the Left Bloc
04-05-2025
“We don’t need to engage in bickering. We need to present proposals to improve people’s lives: salaries, rights, ending instability, and respecting work hours.”
Paulo Raimundo
04-05-2025
“In the next 15 days, we cannot waste a single second. We must gather as many votes as possible. We need a greater majority to continue governing Portugal, for the good of all, and caring for everyone.”
Luís Montenegro
04-05-2025
