Montenegro says the PSD is “open to dialogue and consideration” of an electoral coalition with the SDS and independent candidates

The chairman of the PSD said this Thursday that the party is “open to dialogue and consideration” of electoral coalitions with SDS-PP and PPM and, above all, to open the lists to independents, even allowing for “some surprises”.

In an interview with SICAsked if he accepted that if he were to lose the early legislative elections on March 10, he would make a minority government viable, Luis Montenegro began by repeating that “he will only become prime minister if he wins the elections.”

“I am ready to take responsibility for refusing to form a government; naturally, this will entail taking responsibility for managing the PS,” he admitted.

In this case, he added, it will be a decision that will compromise only you, and not the SDP.

“I don’t want to tie the PSD to my decision, guys,” he said, but assured that he felt able to win “the trust of the majority of the Portuguese people.”

In an interview, Luis Montenegro assured that the PSD has not yet made a decision on possible electoral coalitions, but, answering the question about the possibility of revising the agreements with the SDS-PP and the PPM, as in the past, he did not rule it out, remembering that there are already municipal and regional coalitions with these parties.

“We have not yet made a decision, but we are open to the possibility of dialogue, consideration with these parties and, above all, with many independent citizens who have approached us and expressed their readiness, and that is why we have lists either in a party coalition with independent or , at least the SDP with the independents,” he said.

Montenegro stressed that the party is “ready to go into the elections alone”, but also admits the possibility of creating a “more comprehensive and broad front”, stressing that the CDS-PP “has political personnel of great value.”

As for the independents he intends to include in the lists of parliamentary candidates, the SDP leader said that he “has many people in mind,” but no invitation has been received,” and admitted that “there may be some surprises.”

As for IL and Cega, Montenegro acknowledged that they will compete in a political space that is also the space of the SDP, and called on voters of both parties to focus their votes on the Social Democrats.

“The vote that changes the government will be for the SDP,” he said.

Asked about the lack of mention of former PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho at the last Congress, the PSD leader said he mentioned him in one of his speeches and emphasized the “great pride in the patriotic work” of the PSD/SDS-PP. Government in 2011 and 2015.

“However, it is true that there is a certain stigma in Portuguese society regarding some of the restrictive measures of the period, which were not well understood. I no longer look back, I look forward,” he emphasized.

At the studio entrance SICThe President of the PSD was asked about the political crisis in the Azores even before the President of the Republic announced that he would convene a meeting of the Council of State for December 11, after listening today to the parties represented in the Azores Parliament. Based on the results of the implementation of the regional budget for 2024.

Responding to a question about the possibility of holding early elections, which is defended by the three parties that make up the coalition government (SDP/HDZ-PP/PPM), Montenegro noted that this would be “the work of democracy” and just an “easy expectation”, already that they are planned for autumn 2024.

“Unfortunately, the political parties have not given the government the necessary confidence to approve this latest budget,” he said, de-dramatizing the possibility of “albeit a small foretaste” of the electoral calendar in the Azores.

When asked whether the PSD/Azores should try to present a second budget, Montenegro placed the decision within the realm of regional autonomy.

“The PSD/Azores have done an excellent job of avoiding serious instability,” he said.