Manuel de Almeida / Lusa
The Secretary General of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos
The comments of the socialist leader are being criticized inside the party by names like José Luís Carneiro or Ana Catarina Mendes – but there are also those who go out in their defense.
The statements of the PS secretary general, Pedro Nuno Santos, about immigration are divide the socialists. In an interview with Expresso, the socialist leader admitted PS errors in immigration management and revealed that he changed his opinion on the end of the manifestation of interest, now being in his favor, and stressed the need for immigrants to respect Portuguese culture.
While figures such as José Luís Carneiro, Eurico Brilhante Dias and Ana Catarina Mendes criticized the approach, others, such as Ana Gomes and Francisco Assis, praised the leader’s courage to address the subject.
José Luís Carneiro, former Minister of Internal Affairs, disagrees with Pedro Nuno Santos, about “call effect”Created by the manifestation of interest, stating to what the increase in immigrants is rather resulting economic growth.
Eurico Brilhante Dias, vice president of the PS parliamentary bench, speaks in a “less good time” of the socialist leader, who “confused facts, feeding perceptions that are wrong.” “It’s a speech of those who want to share. This is not our language, ”he told.
On the side of Ana Catarina Mendes, former minister responsible for immigration, there is “perplexity”With the position of Pedro Nuno. In response to, the MEO states that any idea of “acculturation” is contrary to the principles defended by the party and recalls that the manifestation of interest has been defended by the PS for 30 years.
But there are also those who defend the position of the leader. Francisco Assis, also MEP, tells the public that the statements of the PS leader are courageous and greet the “free and serious” debate that raised “inside the PS”.
Ana Gomes, in turn, praised Pedro Nuno Santos for assuming PS errors and addressing the issue with a Perspective “on the left”. “It is good that Pedro Nuno Santos say what must be said and that this is not to turn to the center or right: it is to turn left and take responsibility,” says the socialist, who agrees with the requirement that immigrants “respect the our laws and rights ”.
In the reaction to criticism, Pedro Nuno Santos respects the divergence and emphasizes that the party is “aligned” essentially.
The socialist leader also rejects the accusations of the minister of presidency, António Leitão Amaro, who considered the statements of Pedro Nuno “a monumental somersault.” “There is no contradiction. There is no somersault. The theme is complex and should be discussed in all its complexity, and not as many have done, ”he argues.
