Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira, the leader of the Monarchist Popular Party (PPM), announced on Monday that the party intends to appeal to the European Court after the Constitutional Court rejected its challenge against the use of the acronym ‘AD’ by the PSD/CDS coalition.
“We will appeal to the European Court. We consider it electoral fraud because they are abusively using a name that does not belong to them,” stated the PPM leader.
He elaborated, “We contested elections with three parties a year ago […]. In the following election, immediately after, they use the same name but with only two parties. It’s an attempt at electoral fraud. It’s supported by the Constitutional Court, with judges appointed by the Assembly of the Republic. Therefore, they are not judges – they are politicians or politically-minded judges […] they are judging in their own interest.”
Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira also described the situation as “unfair” and “not serious,” adding that they have been saying this “for many years.”
“The Constitutional Court should have disappeared by now or be dependent only on the Supreme Court,” he remarked. “The Supreme Court should have a department where constitutional judges would form the Constitutional Court, because it doesn’t make sense for violators in the Assembly of the Republic, the deputies, to appoint judges to judge in their own interest.”
Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira reiterated that the coalition’s use of the ‘AD’ acronym is electoral fraud since, in his view, “they are deceiving the electorate.”
“They lack courage and hide behind a sigla that doesn’t belong to them,” he asserted.
He added that, besides appealing to the European Court following the Constitutional Court’s rejection, they will “try to annul these elections.”
The monarchist leader emphasized that voting for the ‘AD’ acronym is to fall for a scam. “It’s a scam to use it, so every voter who votes for ‘AD’ is also following a scam,” he noted.
He emphasized that “the acronym is not theirs,” referring to PSD and CDS, stressing that last year, “we ran with that acronym with three parties. A year later, in the next elections, only two parties are part […], it doesn’t make sense. They are deceiving the electorate, a party has left. It lacks the essence that Sá Carneiro gave it.”
“This is a lack of responsibility from these PSD leaders. I never thought PSD would reach this point,” he concluded.
Addressing the Legislative Elections, Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira mentioned that “the goal is to enter the Assembly of the Republic” to have “a voice.”
“When we joined ‘AD’, they promised everything and delivered nothing. They promised that if elections were held this year, we would enter the Assembly of the Republic with representation, and that wasn’t done. Therefore, we go alone […]. We are running in all electoral circles, so we hope to have at least one representative,” he concluded.
Last Thursday, April 3rd, the Constitutional Court unanimously approved the denomination ‘AD – PSD/CDS Coalition.’ The entity stated, “there is nothing to prevent the coalition between the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) and the CDS – People’s Party (CDS-PP)” from contesting in the Continent, Madeira, Europe, and Outside Europe with the acronym ‘PPD/PSD.CDS-PP’ and the name ‘AD – PSD/CDS Coalition.’
By Friday, the PPM filed an appeal, arguing that the decision approving the use of the name ‘AD – PSD/CDS Coalition’ “is null due to lack of rationale” and “illegal due to violation” of the electoral law regarding coalition names.
However, despite the PPM’s arguments, the Constitutional Court decided to “deny the appeal and consequently confirm the decision.”
The Constitutional Court’s deliberation denies the PPM’s appeal and upholds the decision authorizing the use of the designation ‘AD – PSD/CDS Coalition,’ arguing there is no risk of confusion with other coalitions.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 12:39 – 07/04/2025
