José Sena Goulão / Lusa
Henrique Gouveia e Melo
“Until I explain the interests, I have nothing to say to this gentleman.” Marques Mendes had said that the admiral’s mask fell.
The candidate for the Presidency of the Republic Gouveia e Melo stated this Friday that his opponent Luís Brands Mendes are doing “dirty campaign” and continues to fail to explain what his profession is and what “interests are involved”.
“A dirty campaign is being done by those who talk about it and continues to not explain what his true profession is and what interests are involved in your profession. Until I explain this, that it’s not illegalbut must explain to the Portuguese people what their interests are, I have nothing to say to this gentleman”, declared Henrique Gouveia e Melo, asked about Marques Mendes’ accusations that he considered that the admiral’s mask fellaccusing him of not having the level or sense of State to be President of the Republic.
“The only thing I have to say is: explain yourself, clarify, because that is what the Portuguese people want. There is nothing more to say. It was not me who raised the problem, the problem was raised by opacity of this candidate”, replied Gouveia e Melo, who was speaking to journalists, in the center of Funchal, during a visit to Placa Central on Avenida Arriaga, where the Christmas market with drinks and other traditional Madeira delicacies is located.
The initiative was attended by the former president of the Government of Madeira and the regional PSD Alberto João Jardim and the president of the CDS-PP/Madeira and regional secretary of Economy, José Manuel Rodrigues.
The three toasted with the traditional fisherman’s poncha, in one of the stalls at Placa Central, where Alberto João Jardim he harshly criticized the candidate supported by the PSD and praised Gouveia e Melo.
About the admiral, he said that “he is the only candidate who is committed to building the country” and “it is closer” to the PSD that Jardim “helped to found, than the current one”.
Afterwards, asked about Marques Mendes having said that Gouveia e Melo has no sense of State, Alberto João Jardim pointed out that “should be well educated” and that he does not admit stating “that the career politicians who were with the admiral were some politicians.”
“He is a politicianwith what you are doing in the interest games. I don’t admit that, having served the country for 40 years as he did, this man could say that he is a bunch of politicians”, he said.
In turn, Gouveia e Melo rejected that these were “harsh words” and pointed out that “they are wise words of someone who has been in politics for 40 years and owes nothing to anyone.”
Marques Mendes said on Tuesday about Gouveia e Melo that the candidate ran dirty campaigns, threw mud at him and had no sense of State to be President of the Republic”, in allusion to the last face-to-face between the two presidential candidates.
The admiral was in Madeira, where he established contacts with the population and is heading this Saturday to the Azores, where he will stay for three days.
Gouveia e Melo highlighted that the archipelagos “they are essential” and give “strategic capacity” and dimension to Portugal.
He also considered that he has “a great chance of winning” the presidential elections in Madeira, “with the help of Dr. Alberto João Jardim and the prestige he has”.
The presidential elections are scheduled for January 18.
