The Liberal Initiative candidate for the Europeans doubts that the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the AD campaign is an “electoral advantage”, given that she “does not have a particularly positive image” among the Portuguese.
“To be honest, I don’t know if this is an electoral advantage. Those of you who work in the media probably understand this better than I do,” João Cotrim de Figueiredo said after a volleyball game on Matosinhos beach in the Porto district.
On the fourth day of the election campaign and after it became known that von der Leyen would join the AD initiative on June 6, the head of the IL list said that the President of the European Commission “does not have a particularly positive image.” with the Portuguese.”
“But I can be wrong and therefore I do not interfere in other people’s strategies,” he emphasized.
However, João Cotrim de Figueiredo suggested that if there had been someone in the liberal group who was prominent in European institutions and thought he could “symbolically strengthen the campaign”, he would have done the same.
According to the leader of the IL list, Von der Leyen does not have a “very positive image”, since at the moment “her merits and electoral value are in doubt.”
“This is a person who, throughout his entire mandate, dealt with a number of issues,” he emphasized.
Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo said he would not support the re-nomination of Ursula von der Leyen, but the decision would depend on alternatives.
“No [apoio]but in the past the liberals didn’t do that anymore and then they ended up providing support because it was a choice between Von der Leyen’s option and an option worse than Von der Leyen, so I also can’t say that based on the results of the negotiations “that will take place after European elections, something like this cannot happen,” he stressed.
Despite criticism of the European Commission President, João Cotrim de Figueiredo suggested that his assessment of her mandate “is not overall negative”.
According to the Liberal candidate, the problem with his mandate is that “it is more positive in situations of pandemic crises and wars than in day-to-day governance.”
“It seems good, but it’s not,” he thought.
The President of the European Commission and candidate of the European People’s Party for a second term will be in Portugal on June 6 to attend an AD election event, a source in the European party told Lusa this Thursday.
The visit came after Ursula von der Leyen campaigned in countries including Greece, Germany, Poland, Croatia and Denmark.
In Portugal, the European elections will take place on June 9, and 17 parties and coalitions will take part in them: AD, PS, Chega, IL, BE, CDU, Livre, PAN, ADN, MAS, Ergue-te, Nova Direita, Volt. Portugal, RIR, We the Citizens, MPT and PTP. 21 deputies will be elected.