The useful vote in the PS and the “job done” in the housing sector give rise to differences between Pedro Nuno Santos and Rui Tavares.

Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos and Livre leader Rui Tavares went head-to-head in a televised debate over the March 10 legislative elections, broadcast by RTP.

During the debate, the Socialist leader several times defended the “useful vote” in the Socialist Party as the “only way” to guarantee the approval of Livre’s “good measures”. “The risk of winning correctly is real,” said Pedro Nuno Santos.

Rui Tavares did not agree with the socialist’s statements, which he compared with António Costa’s request before the last elections. “I have already seen this speech,” retorted the leader of Livre, who believed that the only obvious option for the approval of his party’s measures was if the Portuguese voted for Livre.

Pedro Nuno presents the result achieved at home, but does not convince Rui Tavares

Pedro Nuno Santos used much of the debate to list measures already implemented by the Socialist Party in the housing sector, without presenting alternatives for the future.

Rui Tavares blamed the socialist government, including the enemy of the night, for the failure in the area. As a solution, the leader of Livra proposes the use of empty government buildings, which provokes a reaction from Pedro Nuno Santos, who blames Rui Tavares for not presenting new measures.

Leaders agreed to completely replace teachers’ seniority

Pedro Nuno Santos left a guarantee that teachers, if the PS wins, will not have to wait for more than one legislative body to completely replace their seniority.

The Socialist leader assured that he intends to increase teachers’ salaries, but did not specify the amount. “We don’t have to say how much.”

Rui Tavares recalled that teachers have been waiting since 2015 to catch up. “Negotiations are necessary,” he clarified.

“I do not agree that Portugal is among the OECD countries that invests least in education,” said Rui Tavares. The Livre leader also advocated increasing the number of public schools.

“We must continue to invest in public schools. We cannot systematically say that everything went wrong,” responded Pedro Nuno Santos.

Investing in the National Health System

Pedro Nuno Santos explained that to further develop the SNS, it is necessary to reorganize health centers and give hospitals more autonomy, as well as value professionals.

“We have no dogma with the private sector about what the public cannot do,” added Pedro Nuno Santos, who accused the right of wanting to cut investment in social media.

In the health sector, Rui Tavares defended Livre’s new measures to attract votes for the party, namely cutting investment in private companies.

Leaders solve Azores problem

Rui Tavares addressed the political problem of the Azores and warned that “a leftist majority is the only way” to guarantee stability both in the archipelagos and on the continent.

The leader of Livre argued that the “motion to reject” would only be a hypothesis in the legislature unless it was introduced by Chega.

“We must also ask this question to the AD,” said Pedro Nuno Santos, when asked whether the PS would approve the creation of a minority government.

“When the PS wins or gets a majority, it rules; when not, it controls the opposition. It is almost impossible for the PS to approve a right-wing government,” he clarified.

The Socialist leader explained that creating a minority government in Portugal is unrealistic.