Gouveia and Melo presents himself as the “different president” that the Portuguese “need”

Henrique Gouveia and Melo presented, this Thursday, his candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic. The candidate argued that the country needs a “different, stable and reliable and above party disputes.”

In the presentation of his candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic, which took place at the Marítimo de Alcântara Gare, in Lisbon, completely crowded, Gouveia and Melo said Portugal needs a different president.

“I believe that now, more than ever, we need a different president. A president who can unite, motivate and make sense of hope, capable of being aware and example, helping to change what has been changing so long. A stable, reliable and attentive president, above party disputes, far from the pressures and faithful to the people who elected him,” he said, in one Speech where it was (indirectly) antagonisms with the current President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The former Chief of Staff of the Armada also defended the idea of ​​a head of state “that is not a mere spectator of political life, but who interpeles and demands when necessary, because it represents all the people.”

“Let it be heard, using the word with containment, substance and property. This will be its greatest power,” he stressed.

If voters trust their vote in Gouveia and Melo, the admiral in the reserve assured that he will fulfill “with loyalty the functions that the Constitution” trusts the head of state: “to defend national independence; to ensure the functioning of democratic institutions; to be arbitrator and moderator; promote national cohesion – which is more than territory, it is identity; represent Portugal with pride and dignity“.

“What locks Portugal is inside”

“We cannot accept discouragement as a destination. We cannot let disenchantment take care of the country and that confidence is running out,” said the Admiral.

Despite the troubled international context, Gouveia and Melo considered that “what truly wages us does not come from outside. It is inside. It is bad decisions, non -decisions, the permanent postponement of the future, the lack of courage to do what has to be done”He criticized.

But, according to the presidential candidate, “there are reasons to believe” and “the country has” young people who innovate, companies that risk, leading scientists, artists who create and sportsmen who pride us. “

“We have Portuguese to shine abroad and immigrants who choose Portugal as a home. This is our country. And it is this Portugal that we should celebrate and protect, but we cannot give us satisfied,” he warned.

Gouveia and Melo points out problems from the country

Gouveia and Melo then pointed out that in Portugal “weaknesses persist: a poverty structural, a fragile economy that needs to grow more and distribute better, a slow, unequal and distant justiceone Modernization state”.

“We have young people who leave, homeless families, forgotten elderly, public services under pressure and immigration without integration. Portugal deserves more and certainly more. It is time to fight the country that we can and should be. We are not condemned to fail, to be small. We don’t have to be poor”He stressed, receiving a prolonged salary.

“That’s why I’m here”

After stating these principles, the admiral is a connection to the objectives of his candidacy for President of the Republic: “That’s why I’m here, because I believe in Portugal, Because I know we can more”.

Gouveia and Melo said he hit “a country where young people have future, where older people rest with dignity, where no one is poor by destination or lack of opportunity, where health, housing and education are rights and not privileges, where culture is central and where the environment is a commitment between generations”. All this in a country that wants “fair, prosperous and supportive”

Admiral felt the appeal to advance

At the opening of his intervention, at 8:06 pm, Gouveia and Melo said it had meaning “growing” a appeal to advance with a candidacy for Belém: “Support spontaneous, genuine and persistentthat honors me a lot and blames me, ”he said.

Noting that “the world has changed a lot”, the admiral in the reserve pointed out that “clouds loaded with uncertainty and danger on the horizon” are seen, with the war of return to the “heart of Europe, destroying the illusion of guaranteed peace”, a West that “falter, divides, loses its course” and some United States that “no longer guarantee safety, launch uncertainties”.

Gouveia and Melo continued, stating that in this context, “the force tries to impose itself on reason,” the “global economy retracts and, with it, hopes”, “democracies are attacked from outside and eroded inside”, warning that Portugal “is not immune, nor isolated in a protective bellies” and “the signs of tired, discouragement and disenchantment in the young democracy are clear.

“E It is for all this that I am here. Because I couldn’t get arms crossed. Because I love this country and I feel it is my duty to act. With the same surrender with which I served the Navy, the Armed Forces and Portugal for 45 years, with the same courage with which I swore to give my life for the homeland, if necessary, and with the same commitment to which I always defended the freedom, the constitution and the interests of all Portuguese, ”he said, justifying the advance for the presidential race.

Military life: perhaps, useful in politics

Highlighting his military experience, Gouveia and Melo said he presented himself “with the experience of those who led in difficult times”.

“I’ve always been where the country called me: I commanded demanding missions in the Armed Forces; I was with the populations in Pedrógãoin the middle of the ashes and pain; I coordinated, with many, the vaccination campaign against COVID-19when Portugal needed organization, trust and leadership, ”said the former Task Force coordinator for vaccination.

Given several hundred supporters, he ended the intervention with about 15 minutes (no right to questions from journalists) with a reference to his navy route, saying that he learned at sea that, that, “In the face of the storm, never give up, the arms are not lowered”.

“And this is what I will do if you trust your vote. I present myself, thus, to the service of Portugal, before you, with humility, courage, independence and hope,” he promised, following an appeal with a nationalist burden: “United, we are an unstoppable force”.

Gouveia and Melo was often applauded by those present, especially when he made references of national nature, in a room full of small flags in Portugal and others that said “Gouveia and Melo Presidente”dark blue color.

At the end of the speech, the National Anthem was sungand Gouveia and Melo was surrounded by young people on the stage that exposed the slogan campaign: Unite Portugal!.