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The televised debate that this Tuesday opposed the former diplomat Ana Gomes and the communist MEP João Ferreira was marked by the challenge launched by Ana Gomes for there to be a fusion of left-wing candidates that would serve as an alternative to the reevaluation of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. which, in the words of the former PS MEP, is supported by the “central bloc” (although the PS has not declared support for any of the candidates).
“Convergence is always important and we have seen how convergence has made a positive difference, in recent years, for the Portuguese,” began Ana Gomes. After declaring his support for the ‘contraption’ he confessed that he “regretted” that there had not been a “formal” contraption “II, taking into account that” there are convergences “between the left-wing parties. And it is these same convergences that I would like to” federate ”In the race to Belém.
But João Ferreira stressed that “there are circumstances” of his candidacy that he cannot find “in any other” and, therefore, although he says that his candidacy is “a space of broad convergence”, he rejects any pre-electoral understanding. In a second round, he admitted that the answer may be different, but, for now, he will play the game alone, as Marisa Matías will have told Ana Gomes even before both requests are formalized.
Discarding the invitation to a convergence before the 24th (date of the presidential elections), Ana Gomes did not hesitate to attract the support of João Ferreira (and the PCP) and assumed trust in the possibility of running for a second round with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and, at this stage, he hopes to have the support of the communists. “We did not come here to play in the elections or to mark territory. I think I can get to the second round and then everything is possible if there is a progressive convergence ”, he shot.
Regarding the role of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as President of the Republic, the two candidates agreed that, “in many aspects”, the president was not “up to” what the country needed. In this assessment, João Ferreira revealed himself “more critical” than Ana Gomes and listed several situations in which he disagreed with the still president and ree-candidate, that is, when promulgating or vetoing titles.
Changes in labor legislation were one of the records This deserved the criticism of João Ferreira, since it “disorganized the lives of many workers” and “left young people in a more vulnerable situation” with the extension of the trial period. The candidate also said that he would not have vetoed “a law that allowed certain tenants to exercise a right of first refusal” and another that allowed “in the Metropolitan Areas to definitively consecrate the public nature of public transport.”
The debate continued with Ana Gomes paying “tribute” to the PCP (and winking again to João Ferreira) for the “positive role he had in making budgets viable since 2015 and in the latter, with an increase in pensions, protection of the unemployed and a minimum wage increase ”, praising the“ progressive convergence ”and“ political stability ”, to which the Communists will have contributed with the viability of the State Budgets.
Entering the final stretch, the debate took on a tone with the discussion on the European Union (EU), where the positions of the candidates diverge radically. The candidate supported by the PCP clarified that he never defended the exit from the European Union, but “the exit of the single currency”, and stressed that Portugal “does not have to accept decisions clearly detrimental to its interests.”
Asked about how Portugal would survive without community funds to support the recovery that should come this year, João Ferreira escaped the question and limited himself to saying that he does not criticize “forms of cooperation between countries that contribute to facing an affliction that affects all”. In this sense, Ana Gomes (who declares herself “an increasingly convinced Europeanist”) took the opportunity to confront the adversary about her sense of vote, as an MEP, on matters such as LuxLeaks or the directive against money laundering.
With the debate even over, João Ferreira could not answer the questions posed by the candidate supported by PAN and Livre and highlighted only that he criticizes “the acceptance of forms of integration that put countries on an equal footing when deciding.” And, on this, he once again pointed a finger at the performance of the candidate and even president of the Republic for the role he played in defending (or not) the national interest.
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