Presidential elections: Portugal needs “firm” opposition to the far right, warns Ferro Rodrigues

Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, former president of the Assembly of the Republic and a prominent member of the Socialist Party, lamented that no presidential candidate has yet emerged that "responds to the aspirations of the democratic left electorate and a significant portion of the Socialist Party," arguing that even those who have already rejected the candidacy should reconsider their position. Speaking to the Lusa news agency about the candidates already announced for next year's presidential elections, the former president of the Assembly of the Republic stated that the right "are satisfied and, even through their commentators, are pressuring the left to keep the matter to itself."

"I regret that by the end of July no presidential candidate had been announced that would meet the expectations of the Democratic Left electorate in general and a significant portion of the Socialist Party," he stated. For Ferro Rodrigues, "the issue isn't just about personalities, but above all about programmatic gaps."

"A democratic and humanist candidacy is urgently needed in the short term. Let's hope that this happens in the coming weeks. No one is left out of this challenge," he urged. When asked if he wanted to put forward a name, the former Socialist Party leader said he had already said "what is necessary and sufficient about the Sampaio da Nóvoa option," which he views "favorably."

"But if it doesn't come to fruition, I think there's a global challenge facing the entire democratic left, and even those who have already said 'no, never, ever,' will have to reconsider their position," he challenged. Regarding whether one of those people who should reconsider is Mário Centeno, who will no longer be governor of the Bank of Portugal, Ferro Rodrigues said he didn't want to "personalize anyone's opinion."

"Portugal needs a candidate who says no and firmly opposes the rise of far-right influence in the Democratic State, aiming to weaken and even destroy it," he argued.

In the opinion of the former President of the Assembly of the Republic, a presidential candidate is needed who "can address the crisis of confidence within the European Union, now exacerbated by very dangerous concessions to the Trump administration, especially in matters of energy and defense." "Portugal needs a candidate who will speak out against the exterminations, massacres, death sentences through famine in the Gaza Strip and the continued disrespect for the UN in the West Bank, and who will commit to actively contributing to our country's recognition of the Palestinian state," he urged.

Former PS secretary-general António José Seguro is one of the presidential candidates running on the left, as is PCP-backed candidate António Filipe.