Daniel Adrian argues that the PS should nominate Mario Centeno as its candidate for prime minister

Socialist leader Daniel Adrian spoke this Friday before the National Political Commission of the PS that the Socialists should present the current Governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno, as the party’s candidate for Prime Minister in the next elections.

In his speech, Daniel Adrian praised the proposal that António Costa said he had made to the President of the Republic so that his former finance minister could form a government as prime minister without resorting to early legislative elections.

But he went further regarding the Bank of Portugal governor: “I think we need to think very carefully about this accessibility that Mario Centeno has shown in leading the government.”

“Because I was here thinking to myself and I thought this: well, maybe Mario Centeno is really the best candidate for prime minister that the PS can present to the country to win the elections on March 10,” he said in an intervention to which Lusa agency had access.

The leader of the Socialist minority line later suggested that “it was worth considering, given the availability of Mario Centeno, about inviting him to actually become the PS candidate in the next elections on March 10, because nothing in the statute prevents this.” “There is nothing in the PS charter that says that the PS secretary general should be a candidate for prime minister. And therefore, I think everyone will agree that there is no other candidate so well positioned to win the next elections than Mario Centeno, although he is independent,” he said.

Daniel Adrian even believed that Mario Centeno would be a good candidate for the post of Prime Minister, “perhaps even because he is an independent person with proven experience, not only in terms of his professional career, but also as Minister of Finance of Governments.” Antonio Costa.”

“And so I think that the PS really cannot miss this opportunity, António Costa, and it is your choice,” he repeated to emphasize his point.

According to the PS leader, Mario Centeno “is the choice of António Costa because António Costa proposed the name Mario Centeno to the President of the Republic.”

“So it was António Costa who made this choice, which I think we all agree with. And therefore I see no reason why now, in fact, Mario Centeno should not be the Socialist candidate for the post of Prime Minister. I think this is a unique opportunity, and if we don’t do it, I understand that we may regret it bitterly,” he warned.

In his speech, Daniel Adrian also stated that “the experience of the primary elections for the choice of a candidate for the post of prime minister, which took place in 2014, can be completely edited.”

“The primary elections were not held to choose a party leader, but to choose a candidate for the post of prime minister. And so I think it would be very interesting for the party to launch an open primary process similar to what happened in September.” 2014 to choose a candidate for the post of prime minister. He will be a very strong PS candidate and will almost certainly win the next election,” he added.