During an open class on corruption at ISCSP, the presidential candidate rejected the Chega leader’s statements about the need for dictators and promised to be a ‘President of the Constitution’ if elected.
António José Seguro classified André Ventura’s campaign posters for the presidential elections as “unacceptable”, accusing the Chega candidate of promoting racist and xenophobic messages.
The socialist also rejected the idea that Portugal needs dictators, stressing that the path must be to strengthen democratic institutions.
With his usual costume as a professor at the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences, António José Seguro participated in an open class dedicated to the topic of corruption. It was in this academic context that he reacted to his opponent’s statements, who in Parliament stated that, with “three Salazars”, the country would have less corruption.
Seguro promised that, if elected, he will be “a President of the Constitution”, and took the opportunity to accuse Ventura of violating the fundamental law with his most recent campaign.
The socialist candidate still has more than two months to try to win the largest number of votes, both inside and outside the party. Alexandra Leitão was the last PS leader to admit that she is still not completely convinced.
During the session, which lasted around an hour and a half and was attended by historian José Pacheco Pereira, António José Seguro avoided commenting on the possible criminalization of illicit enrichment, an old PSD banner.
If the measure progresses, and if he is elected, he may one day have to decide between enacting or vetoing the law.
In his intervention, he left a firm defense of a more transparent State and called for a change in political culture, arguing that anyone involved in corruption cases should not only face judicial sanctions, but also a clear ethical and political condemnation.
