Manuel Fernando Araújo / Lusa
Luís Marques Mendes greeted by Luís Montenegro
“One should not lie down the towel to the ground,” says candidate for the presidency: the “country is incredulous with the idea of having early elections.” Marcelo has to talk to Montenegro and make him answer. Trust motion is voted on Tuesday.
The presidential candidate LUÍS MARQUES MENDES He asked the President of the Republic to make a “last attempt” with the Prime Minister and the PS to avoid elections.
The former PSD president stated that The “country is incredulous With the idea of having early elections ”, he does not want them, nor understand their usefulness, stressing Lusa that he himself shares this apprehension.
“Therefore, I would like to appeal to the President of the Republic: that can do one last attempt, one last effort, to avoid electionsto ensure stability, ”he said.
Marques Mendes’s three requests
This attempt by the President of the Republic, according to the plan of Marques Mendes, should go through “Three Diligences”.
The first would go through ensure that the prime minister commit himself to “responding in writing and media to doubts that some still have about the issues that have been discussed ”about their family’s company.
“Second, one PS commitment which, following this, would remove your proposal to create one.
And finally the government commitment that, following all this, would also remove yours ”that will be discussed and voted on Tuesday afternoon.
Marques Mendes acknowledged that “these steps can be very difficult in terms of practical results”, but considered that “You should not lie down the towel to the floor”stressing that the role of a President of the Republic is “to be mediator in these times of crisis.”
“And I think two things are important: avoid some elections that are undesirable and ensure minimal stability, At least until the end [da execução] of the Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PRR) ”in 2026, he defended.
“It’s all very much to lose”
The former PSD leader also maintained that, at a time when the world “is more dangerous than ever” and the Europe “is in an increasingly fragile and vulnerable position”political stability is essential.
“There is no guarantee that, from the new elections, if they exist, a more governable parliament may come out than it is today. That is, it’s all very much to lose. The people do not want elections and I think there should be no divorce between the parties and the people here. That’s why I make this appeal, ”he said.
Asked if, given the posture of the parties in recent days, it seems viable for him that the government and the PS follow the steps it suggests, Marques Mendes acknowledged that “The positions are very extreme” And so it is difficult for them to do, but it has recalled the state budget negotiations to 2025.
“A lot of people thought we were going to have a political crisis and it was possible to avoid it. Then there was a sense of responsibility. Why can’t there be also this time? ”He asked, asking the parties to try to make an effort“ to put the country first ”.
Questioned if, as a way of avoiding elections, he would also admit that the President of the Republic appoint another prime minister than Luis Montenegro, Marques Mendes said he thinks the only way to avoid going to the polls is to do the steps he has lit. “Any other question I think is to distract the attention of the essentials,” he said.
Montenegro was well? Marques Mendes does not comment
Already about if Luís Montenegro has committed a recklessness in relation to Spinumviva, Marques Mendes declined to comment on this right now, for wanting to “help build a solution” and not “make positions more extreme”, and promised to do so at the Council of State meeting, if he will be held.
Questioned that this political crisis could have been avoided, the presidential candidate answered: “I think, at this moment, it is important to talk about the present and the future.”
“That is, trying a solution or letting go to some elections that no one understands, that no one realizes, that no one thinks they can be useful for the country,” he said.
