The head of the PCP list for the European elections, João Oliveira, this Saturday accused the PS and AD of not wanting to “be scrutinized” in televised debates, arguing that the refusal harms the mobilization of voters for the elections.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, João Oliveira said that he received “with some surprise, but with a little surprise” the refusal of the PS and AD to participate in the model proposed by the TV channels, which predicted 28 face-to-face meetings with presidential candidates. European Championship June 9.
“It is clear that PS and AD do not want to be subjected to the scrutiny that their positions will naturally be subjected to. “I believe that this attempt to refuse debate and confrontation with one’s political opponents does have behind it the difficulty or inability to confront the responsibilities that they have taken on in the European Parliament over the years,” he said.
According to João Oliveira, neither the PS nor the Democratic Alliance (AD) want to “clarify their position” so that “people are not blamed for the damage that will cause their lives and the future of the country.”
Despite this, the head of the PKP list hopes that both parties will change their position and allow “a confrontation of positions, proposals and visions regarding the future of the country that is at stake in these European Parliament elections.”
While defending the fact that direct contact with the electorate and mobilization on the streets have a “predominant role” for political forces, João Oliveira said he could not ignore the “contribution” of televised debates in clarifying the positions of each party.
“Without absolutizing the mode of campaigning only in television debates, we do not underestimate the contribution that these debates can make to clarity and clarification,” he said.
If the PS and AD’s refusal continues, João Oliveira said it would be detrimental to the mobilization of the electorate, especially because European elections are “always elections with less participation than others.”
“Avoiding political debate and confrontation with other political forces naturally does not contribute well to the mobilization that the Portuguese need to carry out in these elections to the European Parliament,” he said.
According to the Expresso newspaper, the PS and the Democratic Alliance (AD) have abandoned the debate model proposed by RTP, TVI and SIC for the European elections on June 9, which included 28 face-to-face meetings between the list leaders. .parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic.
These political forces stated that there were a large number of duels that could affect the election campaign, and admitted that they agreed to a lighter calendar.
Speaking to reporters following today’s meeting of the National Commission of the Socialist Party, the socialist leader said that his party should “campaign in the streets, on the territory, with the people” and not spend “all the time on debates and comments on debates.”
Like the PKP, the head of the BE list for the European elections, Katarina Martins, today accused the PS and PSD of wanting to hide their candidates as they rejected the proposed debate model and insisted on holding them face to face.
IL leader Rui Rocha also accused the two parties of an “attack on democracy” as they “tried to prevent” debate over the European elections with all parties.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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