Gouveia e Melo criticizes the Government for pre-election omissions and attacks “political caste”

Gouveia e Melo stated that the Government, through the AD, went to elections and said nothing about structural reforms. The presidential candidate also accused “the political caste” of cynicism, blaming it for the growth of populism.

The former Chief of Staff of the Navy was part of a conversation for a podcast by a group of students from the University of Coimbra, recorded in the historic café in Santa Cruz, this Monday.

The conversation’s central theme was the living conditions of students and the loss of young Portuguese talent abroad, something that the admiral considered urgent to resolve to stop this emigration, especially in a global context of high competition for attracting senior management.

Gouveia e Melo criticized the “old system” of politics which reveals itself to be incapable of carrying out the renewal that the country needs and which, on the other hand, takes refuge in rhetoric”.

But it went further. He considered that the Government “went to elections and said nothing about structural reforms. About its electoral project it said nothing”.

In front of young people, the former Chief of Staff of the Navy also sought to ensure that always had political thoughts. However, he claimed, he did not express this due to his status as an active soldier.

“My thoughts are common from the PS to the CDS”, he declared.

Gouveia e Melo attacks politicians

Later, at the dinner rally for his candidacy in Alcobaça, after speeches by the former president of the CDS, Francisco Rodrigues dos Santosand the former social-democratic minister Angelo CorreiaGouveia e Melo attacked “the political caste”, holding her responsible for the growth of populism.

“The immobility of the last 20 years, associated with cynical rhetoric and cynicism that we are seeing in these very presidential elections, can create strong populism. A populism that can defeat democracy if we are all not careful”, warned the admiral in his speech, after having done his usual criticism of the current party system.

In his speech, lasting more than 30 minutes, he railed against politicians who had spoken out against his candidacy, as he was a soldier.

“Those from the political caste, who think they are an oligarchy, who are the owners of the system”, he specified, before leaving a set of questions: “When they say that independents should enter to renew politics, are they serious or joking?”

“What military qualities did the political lords think endangered democracy, the sense of loyalty to the country, the oath to defend the country with our lives, defend the Constitution and look at the Portuguese as a whole and not in parts? Which of these things impresses you and leaves you with a sour taste?”, asked the admiral, prompting a prolonged round of applause.

More criticism of the Government

Gouveia e Melo also addressed the crisis in the National Health Service (SNS), at which point he once again left warnings about his attitude if he were elected President of the Republic.

“I’m going to say every day to the government, please, don’t announce again when the SNS fails that you’re going to buy ambulances. Don’t do that, because that’s cynicism – and that’s what creates populism later on”he warned.

Next, he stated that he had nothing against this PSD/CDS Government, nor against previous governments.

“The only thing I have is against these types of practices. And you can be sure that, If they choose me, I will always have my finger in the wound and I will never let her go gangrenous”, he said, raising the tone of his voice.