Rodrigo Antunes / LUSA
The general secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos
From the vaccines mission to the Palácio de Belém, it is a “very big leap”, believes the secretary general of the PS.
The general secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos, said this Friday that the eventual candidacy of Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo for the Presidency of the Republic would be a “very big leap” in relation to his experience as leader of the vaccination mission during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The admiral had a mission [a da vacinação] and fulfilled it successfully. Jumping from this mission to the Presidency of the Republic is a very big leap. A president of the Republic is much more than leading a successful mission”, said Pedro Nuno Santos in an interview with: “we need a president of the Republic with great social sensitivity, capable of promoting dialogue and creating bridges”.
The admiral, who has not yet officially confirmed his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections, appears in the polls as one of the main possible candidates for the Belém Palace.
There are activists who are informing socialist leaders that they would vote for Gouveia e Melo for president of the Republic, which is generating concern within the party.
Isaltino Morais, president of the Chamber of Oeiras, this week gave unequivocal support for his candidacy, and challenged Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to unite efforts around Gouveia e Melo.
In relation to autarchicPedro Nuno confirmed his support for Manuel Pizarro in his address to the Porto City Council and accused the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, of not solving the capital’s structural problems, such as housing, transport, traffic and urban hygiene — without revealing who the PS candidate for the Lisbon City Council will be. .
