All parties criticize the prime minister’s declaration to the country, due to its form and content. They accuse Luís Montenegro of instrumentalizing the security forces for the benefit of the government, and speak of a ridiculous moment of political exploitation.
The information that a prime minister will address the country at Palácio de São Bento, at 8 pm, indicates that he is preparing to make a solemn announcement. It is therefore an exceptional type of declaration that in theory only happens at important moments for the country. Luís Montenegro chose this model to announce an investment of 20 million euros in the security forces.
“What we had yesterday was an exercise in this point of view of trivializing what is the declaration and word of a prime minister before the country”, says Pedro Nuno Santos, secretary general of the PS.
“Either there were very substantial things to say about this issue, or it doesn’t make sense for the prime minister to speak out,” says Rui Rocha, president of the Liberal Initiative.
“The Prime Minister ends up announcing more vehicles and more investment in vehicles. An announcement that could be made by the Minister of Internal Administration upon leaving parliament”, says André Ventura, president of Chega.
The Minister was there, but silent. The word was solely from Luís Montenegro who, to the investment announcement, adds a review of police operations to conclude that Portugal is a safe country.
“Yesterday’s statement does not promote social alarm because it was ridiculous from this point of view. And therefore it is difficult for us to understand any other reason other than taking advantage of a perception, feeding a perception for the benefit of personal and Government propaganda”, says Pedro Nuno Santos.
“It’s a hunt for perceptions. It’s worse than hunting wild dogs. It’s a hunt for perceptions. It’s even worse because the prime minister is mobilizing state resources for his perception hunts”, says Mariana Mortágua, coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda
“We have the unusual aspect of having the prime minister assuming the role of spokesperson for the criminal police bodies”, says Inês Sousa Real, PAN spokesperson.
“Speaking as if he were a commander of the police forces, he is instrumentalizing what is the meritorious action of the security forces and services in government propaganda”, says António Filipe from the PCP.
The parties accuse the Government of giving in to Chega’s speech.
“There is one thing the Portuguese know. The original is always better than the copy. When you try to give a speech without actually wanting to do it, it always gives bad results”, says André Ventura.
“The Prime Minister would only have to take a look at what is happening in other countries to understand what has happened to center-right parties when they pursue extreme right-wing issues. They are generally emptied inside”, says Rui Tavares do Livre.
“The Government cannot legitimize this speech because it is legitimizing the transformation of Portugal into a country that it is not. We are and will continue to be a safe country”, says Mariana Mortágua.
Portugal is considered the 7th safest country in the world in the Global Peace Index.
