Tiago Petinga / Lusa
The President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Luís Montenegro (E), flanked by the former President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva (D).
The former President of the Republic Cavaco Silva recalls that, in 1980, the attacks on the then Prime Minister Francisco Sá Carneiro produced “opposition” to those desired by the opposition, comparing the situation with which Luís Montenegro faces today.
In the presentation of a book that brings together texts from the founder of the PSD, Francisco Sá Carneiro, in the year of his death (1980), recalled the way the former prime minister reached AD’s first absolute majority in 1979 and reinforced it months later.
The former President of the Republic remembered the “Campaign of slander” which says PS and PCP did against.
“Os Attacks to the person The Prime Minister by the PS and the Communist Party had, after all, effects contrary to what they expected, ”he said.
“Despite the campaigns moved by the opposition against Prime Minister Sá Carneiro, the Democratic alliance again won the elections On October 5, 1980, even reinforcing most, ”he said.
The former head of state also considered that “Sá Carneiro is the proof That, in Portugal, the choice of the prime minister’s person is decisive for the success of the government and for the resolution of Portugal’s problems. ”
In his speech, Cavaco Silva never referred to the situation of electoral pre-campaign, nor that of the Prime Minister.
Montenegro “convinced” that it will have “major majority”
Luís Montenegro accompanied Cavaco Silva on the way out after the book’s presentation and confessed to being convinced that AD will have “a bigger majority” in the elections of May 18.
Affirming-se Descendant of the political culture of Sá Carneiro and Cavaco SilvaMontenegro also recalled the absolute majority that the party founder was able to reinforce in 1980.
The Prime Minister also recalled the relative majority that Cavaco Silva was able to transform into an absolute majority in 1987.
“I am convinced that this majority will also be a larger majority because it will fill the ability we need to join financial stability that we have economic and social stability”He said.
Montenegro spoke shortly after Cavaco Silva, author of the preface to the 7th and last volume of the book on Sá Carneiro, entitled precisely “A major majority – 1980“.
