The historic socialist Manuel Alegre said this Sunday that the President of the Republic should not be threatened with the dissolution of parliament, expressing his conviction that he would not do so despite having such power.
“The President of the Republic does not need to be threatened, he has the right to dissolve [da Assembleia da República]if you want to dissolve, dissolve,” Manuel Alegre told reporters upon arrival at the Rosa Mota pavilion in Porto, where a party is being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Socialist Party.
Asked about the criticism of the government by the President of the Republic, Manuel Alegre stated that “criticism is part of democracy”, refusing to criticize Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, with whom he said he was a friend.
But it won’t dissolve [o parlamento]because PS is the guarantor of political stability in Portugal,” he added.
Last Friday in Braga, President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic “would be bad news” but stressed that “sometimes there has to be bad news.”
“If it has to be, let it be as late as possible,” he said.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa believes it is important not to introduce factors of instability, unpredictability and insecurity, especially at a time when the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) is being implemented and the Portugal 2030 program is in its infancy.
In this sense, he called on political leaders “of all sides” to do “everything possible” to ensure stability in the country.
“We all thank you. They thank the citizens and thank the President of the Republic, who is freed from the decision that belongs to him and only him,” he said.
On the contrary, “it would be bad news – and we usually dismiss bad news – to introduce an additional, additional political factor in the middle of this execution period and in the face of the current economic and financial situation,” he said.
However, shortly thereafter, the head of state acknowledged that “sometimes there has to be bad news.”
“Ideally, it shouldn’t. If it does, then let it be as late as possible, with the least cost in terms of instability. And as close as possible to the transition, which, in any case, could, if that were the will of a good Portuguese,” he added He.