MEP-elect and former president of the Liberal Initiative João Cotrim Figueiredo said today upon arrival at the National Assembly in Santa Maria da Feira that he expects confirmation of IL’s maturity as a “middle-class party”.
“I hope that this is another confirmation of our ability to prepare now for the next stage, which is no longer a small party, it is a medium-sized party, which obviously needs to be organized internally and externally to do this. So, it is a confirmation of growth and, by the way, maturity,” he told reporters.
The former party leader gave a speech upon his arrival at the Europark in Santa Maria da Feira, where the IL National Congress is taking place from 11:52.
João Cotrim Figueiredo expressed the hope that “people will understand that a party, like any organization, must act with a head and a heart.”
“You have to appeal to people’s rationality, but also to their emotions, their feelings, and in the particular case of a political party, you have to be able to explain that what might happen in the future is much more interesting and much more attractive than what has happened in the past,” he defended himself.
The now-elected MEP said he believed IL “knew this and used both head and heart”.
Asked about the different internal trends reflected in the various statute amendment proposals that will be voted on at the congress, Cotrim Figueiredo rejected the “disunity” scenario.
“I feel, and we all know, that on some of the topics that will be discussed here, there are different opinions. This is not disunity, this is discussion, debate, pluralism. I do not see any problem with this,” he said.
João Cotrim Figueiredo, however, acknowledged that the change to the statutes “has a two-thirds approval threshold, which is particularly difficult.”
“Therefore, I don’t know whether it is possible to draw such clear conclusions as would have been the case with a simple majority,” he said.
According to João Cotrim Figueiredo, “it is important that people understand that the statute must be in line with the growth of the party”, expressing himself “convinced” and “with great faith” in the approval of the National Council’s proposal.
The IL National Convention opened at 11:52 a.m., nearly an hour later than scheduled. At first, some delegates criticized the business model.
Vasco Figueira believed that “members were being called upon to vote with the cross on something that was not final,” referring to the method of approving amendments to the bylaws, which drew some ire from the convention council, who warned the activist that he should have reviewed the rules.
After three speeches, the convention approved its rules, opening the debate on changing the charter.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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