The former president of Parliament reacted “naturally” to the PS’s support for António José Seguro’s presidential candidacy, refusing to comment further. This position contrasts with previous statements by Augusto Santos Silva in which he considered that Seguro did not meet “minimum requirements” to be supported by the party.
“I saw it quite naturally, I have nothing to add about the presidential elections to what I’ve already said,” he replied.
Faced with various insistences from journalists, Santos Silva reiterated that I had nothing to add and that he had already taken his position on these presidential elections “in due course”.
“I saw the decision taken by the National Commission, an entirely legitimate decision, completely natural and I respect that decision”, he added.
In January, the PS leader said that Seguro “does not appear to meet the minimum requirements of a candidacy that can be supported by the PS and a vast field of democratic forces”he stated, accusing him of staying “by banalities”.
At the beginning of July, and after some reflection, Santos Silva announced that he would not run for the presidential elections, despite having considered that the candidates on the ground “they do not meet the conditions so that a vast social and political field can feel represented in the next presidential elections”.
“Despite the many supports I received from very valuable and important people to me, the incentives I received and which I am very grateful for, from the bottom of my heart, I came to the conclusion that my candidacy would not be comprehensive enough to be strong enough”, he said.
According to the former president of parliament, he defended, “the best possible application” would be a “candidacy of an independent personality, from civil society, who can put on the table” The topics need to be discussed in the presidential campaign.
“I make room for the presentation of a strong, aggregating and independent candidacy, withdrawing my availability and I hope that, in the coming days, a candidacy may emerge that is more comprehensive, stronger, more aggregating than mine would be”, he pointed out at that time.
For the socialist, it would be necessary to “new application” because those in the “land is not enough”none of them.
