Pedro Nuno Santos gives up personal safety and discounts polls

PS Secretary General Pedro Nuno Santos this Wednesday rejected the personal security of the PSP provided by the Prime Minister and discounted the recent poll that brought victory to the Democratic Alliance.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at the PS rally in Casa do Campino in Santarem, Pedro Nuno Santos was asked if he would accept the PSP personal security provided today by Prime Minister António Costa.

“We don’t need that,” replied the Socialist leader.

Regarding the poll published today, which gives the victory to the Democratic Alliance (AD), 6 percentage points more than the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos discounted it, stressing that he always reacts the same to studies, whether they put the socialists ahead or behind.

“The last time RTP and the Catholic University carried out a pre-election poll was before the regional elections in the Azores: they gave the victory to the PS and the PS lost,” he gave an example.

Upon his arrival at Casa Campino, Pedro Nuno Santos was surrounded by journalists and several PS and Socialist Youth (JS) activists, without interfering with the approximately two dozen prison guards and PSP and GNR agents who kept a silent vigil at the building’s door.

In a conversation with Lusa, one of the group’s members, Ricardo Simões of the PSP, stated that the goal was not to confront Pedro Nuno Santos, but rather to ensure that the issue of equating the travel allowances of these security forces with missions PJ remains on the agenda.

“We want this to be discussed and not forgotten,” he said, stressing that these agents will keep a silent vigil in front of all party leaders who visit Santarem.

Prime Minister António Costa this Wednesday instructed the PSP to ensure the personal security of the leaders of parties with parliamentary seats vying for the seat, following an attack on the PSD president by a climate activist.

A government source told Lusa that António Costa has already spoken to Luis Montenegro and informed him of his decision.

“The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs of the PSP to provide personal security for candidates who head the lists of parties with seats in parliament,” a source in the office of the head of the executive power told Luse.

António Costa’s decision comes after the PSD president was attacked today during a visit to the Lisbon Tourist Exchange (BTL) as part of the AD election campaign.

Montenegro was doused with green paint by a young man who was later eliminated by a PSP agent.

But End Fossil activists demanded action in a statement, arguing that “no party has a plan that matches climate reality.”