Passos Coelho asks for a “strong signal” and understanding to respond to those who voted disappointed

Former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho asked this Monday to give a “very strong signal” in response to those who expressed disappointment in the last elections, and not to create theatrical divisions in the political space.

At the launch of the book Identity and Family, attended by Chega leaders Andre Ventura and CDS-PP Nuno Melo, Passos Coelho argued that people must have the ability to “understand each other collectively.” and warned that you can’t tell voters you have “great respect for their concerns” but not for the choices they made in the election.

“It’s a bit of an insult to people, we can’t say, ‘I really care about what you want, but if you make this choice, you won’t get anything from here, if you make this choice, you will.’ don’t talk to me,” he said.

Without explaining the recipients, but clearly alluding to the SDP and Chegu, the former prime minister said that “when there are established identities,” there is no need to fear that political spaces are “blurring or mixing with each other.”

“We need to look at the people who have been disillusioned these years (…) and who gave a very clear signal in the last elections that they are tired of this. “The good thing is that all those who got very strong support sent a message of confidence to end this, which actually ended it and gave people a reason to believe that another game was worth making,” he said.

And he insisted: “We must cherish this ability to understand each other. I know that sometimes at a political level there is a largely symbolic intention to deliberately use certain language to misunderstand each other or to cause each other to be misunderstood.”

“I think it would be preferable for us to offer people a different image. Many people are starting to get tired of this theater, it’s not real theatricality, it’s not authentic, it’s a tactic,” he said. said, warning that people don’t like being treated “as extras or just an excuse for other reorganizations.”

The former PSD president argued that “politics only wins if people are treated “sensibly”: “Let them decide, and when they decide, we must respect their choices and decisions, knowing that everyone has their share, yours.” argument,” he said.

Upon entering, Passos Coelho was asked if he was pleased with the presence of Andre Ventura at the book launch, and he answered in the affirmative: “I am pleased with this and the presence of many other people.”

When asked how he responded to those who accuse him of getting closer to Chega, he left a guarantee: “Don’t tell me, I’m from the SDP, I don’t think anyone doubts that.”

At the end, the Chegi leader congratulated Passos Coelho and praised his performance: “It was, as always, brilliant.”

“We have already congratulated each other, and I have already congratulated him on his election and on his performance in parliament, we must recognize the merits of others. A good mandate, my friends have a certain opinion…” answered Passos Coelho. , and Ventura ended the sentence with “politeness.”

To journalists after leaving, Ventura felt that today’s speech by Passos Coelho touched more on “Cega flags, such as gender ideology, family or immigration.”

“It is fair to say that in the logic of Dr. Pedro Passos Coelho there is a path of convergence, but that is all. This rapprochement could make it possible to nominate a presidential candidate, why not Pedro Passos Coelho?” he suggested.

The launch of the book “Identity and Family – Between the Consciousness of Tradition and the Demands of Modernity” took place in a completely packed bookstore in Lisbon, and in the middle of the presentation there was a small protest in the street by about a dozen young people. some wearing masks, others with rainbow flags, a symbol of the LGBTQI+ community, who shouted slogans, but dispersed before the participants left.