Former Vila Nova de Gaia mayor Luis Filipe Menezes said Monday that he has no intention of running for office again, but warned that if he is “very upset” he is capable of getting involved.
Menezes, who spoke this Monday in the first session of the Gaia com Norte Platform project, stressed that “a new cycle is opening” in the political life of this municipality in the Porto district, but that only an “imbecile and disconnected” from the political phenomenon would present a municipal candidacy three years before the elections.
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Before an audience of about 200 people, the former president of the PSD explained that he never spoke in public again after losing the elections for the Porto City Council in 2013 for has never been invited to do so.
I said eight years ago that I never intended to hold an executive political position in Portugal again. I have not changed my mind, nor do I intend to change my mind (…) ”, he said, but left a warning.
“The only thing that could make me change my mind, and that is why I leave some advice to the current holders of power in Gaia, do not bother me too much, leave me in my corner (…) leave me alone because if you bother me too much, maybe I’ll get involved, take a little boy in my arms and bring him to power.“, he reinforced.
The former mayor began the speech by explaining why he kept silent for so many years: “I am here this Monday because it was the first time I was invited to speak in public in nine years. Until now I have never had any invitation,” she explained.
The lack of invitations, Menezes said, was due to “what is the ingratitude of modern societies in relation to those who were in power and are no longer” and two other reasons.
Then there was a campaign against me for about two years, it went wrong for those who thought they could annihilate or silence me (…) and, finally, another reason, fear. Fear returned to Portuguese society”, he considered.
To the question, that Luís Filipe Menezes himself admitted that he was present as an announcement of his presence in the initiative, he would present himself for re-candidacy to the Chamber of Gaia, to replace Eduardo Vítor (PS), who was replaced in 2013, or ex-deputy responded no.
Only someone completely stupid and disconnected from the political phenomenon presents a candidacy three years in advance, just a fool”, he said, acknowledging that a “new cycle” is opening in the political life of Vila Nova de Gaia.
“A political cycle ends in Gaia and it is always an opportunity for the game to start from the beginning and if there is common sense on this side of the barricade, there are conditions to lead (…) Gaia has all the conditions to take over again in 2025 from a more brazen way than the locomotive of the Porto Metropolitan Area could be”, he pointed out.
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During more than two hours of speech, Luís Filipe Menezes made accounts of the past, giving an account of the bill of his passage through the direction of the municipality, which he claimed to have left in a situation “financially sustained and economically luxurious”.
Reviewing some of the political, financial and strategic decisions he made during the 16 years he presided over the Gaian municipality, the former Secretary of State did not hide the animosity he feels towards the current president of the municipality, the socialist Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues.
Ten years later, he still fears the ghost of Menezes, because to start preparing to go to teach because things are not going well for your party in Portugal“, he advised, in what was the moment in which he showed the most sympathy for the socialist mayor, whom he even referred to as “boot licking bastard”.
According to Luís Filipe Menezes, the current leader of the municipality of Gaia created “a narrative” to justify the departure of his predecessor: “The narrative that was made in Gaia was the narrative of a man who does not believe in himselfthat he had no project, that he distrusts his own shadow,” he said.
Between advice for the current mayor and whoever wants to follow him in the presidency of the Gaia City Council, Menezes reaffirmed that he is available “to help” the PSD.
“Once upon a time, we had as a slogan finally a president. now whatever again a president“, said.
Source: Observadora
