Manuel de Almeida / Lusa
Former Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho
The former prime minister reinforced this Friday that he is not “a candidate for anything”: when he advances it will be “out of an imperative of conscience”.
After Prime Minister and social democratic leader Luís Montenegro proposed direct elections for May, Passos Coelho responded, at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto, where he spoke on the topic “Political instability and volatility”.
“I like to be clear and direct”, said Montenegro this Thursday: “if there is an alternative and different path that is presented and that is subject to consideration by the party, its bodies and members. We are here to transform Portugal, to listen to those who want to help us, but not to lose the opportunity, the honor and the privilege that we achieved at the polls with the trust of the Portuguese”.
In recent weeks, the former PSD leader has made several critical interventions in relation to the Executive led by Montenegro. Among the repairs is the challenge to the appointment of the former director of the Judiciary Police, Luis Nevesto Minister of Internal Administration, a decision that Passos considers to set a “serious precedent”.
Furthermore, about a week ago, at Instituto +Liberdade, he presented a set of reforms that he considers urgent for the country. He also did not completely rule out a return to active politics, although he warned that, if it happened, such a step would not be taken “for the best reasons”.
At the beginning of the week, in an interview with , Passos Coelho had already admitted the possibility of returning to active politics, without excluding a candidacy for the leadership of the PSD. He guaranteed, however, that he will announce this step only when he understands that the moment has arrived, refusing to limit his public intervention because of speculation.
