Cavaco Silva says Passos Coelho ‘led the country out of bankruptcy’

The former president of the Republic, Anibal Cavaco Silva, said this Saturday that the “shameful” data transmitted by the PS was saved by the former prime minister, Pedro Passo Coelho. “He brought the country out of bankruptcy,” he said in a speech at the SDP National Assembly.

Cavaco Silva performed at closing of the third National Assembly of Mayors of the PSD and sharply criticized the Socialist Party (PS) and Prime Minister António Costa. It gave underline the “path of political and social degradation” of the executive branch, which, in just a year of absolute majority, governs “aimlessly and bumpily.”

The former head of state explained that he decided to accept the invitation to participate in the event because he was “seriously concerned about the consequences of the management of the penitentiary.” The performance lasted over 40 minutes.

Cavaco blamed António Costa for the loss of power and added that sometimes prime ministers “decide to resign” because of a “strike of conscience”.

“Government is empty. The word “socialist” is just a slogan,” he stressed. “A government with an absolute majority of the PS is the same as staying in power and controlling the object of the state, regardless of the means.”

Cavaco Silva discredited measures taken by the government such as the Mais Habitação program and claimed that the PSD provided excellent suggestions and ideas. “AND The accusation that the SDP did not present an alternative policy to the PS government is absolutely false,” he stressed.

“Did the Portuguese find it normal that a government with an absolute majority that had just turned one year old was forced to remove 13 members? The PS needs to clarify the mantle of ambiguity in which it is hidden,” he said. .

The former President of the Republic reiterated that, given the “catastrophic” scenario facing Portugal, “PSD is the only viable option to free the country from government.”

“The SDP should not go along with the censorship monsoons presented by other parties who are more interested in being news in the media. I believe that the SDP should not make the mistake of foreshadowing any warning about coalitions. We will not fall into this trap,” Cavaco warned of the recent successes of other right-wing parties such as Chega and Iniciativa Liberal.

Cavaco Silva realized that the Social Democrats were working to win the next election. “The SDP is ready. And Luis Montenegro is just as prepared or even better than me. In principle, the elections will take place in 2026.”