The 40th Congress of the PSD starts this Friday, in Porto, with the first intervention of Luís Montenegro and the last of Rui Rio, and also with echoes of the first great controversy of the current Government, centered on the future airport.
The Prime Minister on Thursday rejected the Infrastructure Minister, who had announced the previous day immediate solutions for the Lisbon airport, without prior consensus with the elected leader of the PSDcontradicting what was said twice by António Costa.
Despite several requests for resignation, including that of Rui Rio, Pedro Nuno Santos announced at the end of the afternoon that “obviously” he would remain in the Government, assuming responsibility for “communication and articulation errors”.
It was also on the eve of the Congress that one of the main unknowns of the PSD’s near future was resolved, when parliamentary leader Paulo Mota Pinto announced that he would leave office at the request of Luís Montenegro and elections will be called for July 12.
Paulo Mota Pinto leaves the leadership of the PSD caucus
Shortly after, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento —who was part of Rui Rio’s board of directors and coordinated Luís Montenegro’s strategic motion— announced his candidacy for the position, which he said was “closely related” to Luís Montenegro.
The central meeting is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. and the first strong moment will be the farewell speech by the still president Rui Rio, who will have to take stock of the four and a half years of leadership of the party.
Next, the Congress will listen to the first substantive speech by the president-elect, Luís Montenegro, which traditionally focuses on the presentation of the global strategy proposal, entitled “Believe”.
The motion contains commitments such as the launch of the Acreditar Movement, a kind of states general to prepare the electoral program until 2024, and defines the PSD’s position as the leading party of the entire non-socialist space, without completely ruling out the possibility of future understandings with Chega.
Since May 28, the 19th president-elect of the PSD has been practically silent and, for now, is modest about whom he will bring to the governing bodies that will be elected on Sunday.
So far, there are no confirmed names. and only Hugo Soares is singled out as probable general secretary, since it was he who made the transition with the still incumbent, José Silvano.
Internally, the question among various PSD sources contacted by Lusa is whether Montenegro will make a leadership with the hard core of its main supporters, including Hugo Soares, Pedro Duarte, Pedro Alves, Paulo Cunha, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Carlos Coelho , António Leitão Amaro or Pedro Reis, or if it will “open up” to other party currents.
The first day of work will end with the presentation of part of the 19 thematic proposals, with the speeches of the remaining party figures being reserved for Saturday.
For that day, the intervention of the candidate defeated in the last direct matches, Jorge Moreira da Silva, who will not integrate any list to the National Council, like his campaign director, Carlos Eduardo Reis, is expected.
The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, who gave one of the most applauded speeches of the last Congress, in December, He has already confirmed in an interview with Expresso that he will attend the Porto meetingand who will speak to delegates, saying that he is also not available for executive functions.
Miguel Pinto Luz, who in the last great assembly made a speech against the current warning of the risk that the PSD will remain “terribly small” in number and mentality, will go to Porto, but this time he will not present a list to the National Council (the one who headed was the second most voted in that meeting).
The 40th PSD Congress will take place until Sunday at the Pavilhão Rosa da Mota, in Porto.
Source: Observadora
