Chega party leader André Ventura signalled his intention to telephone rival presidential candidate António José Seguro this Thursday, 5th February, seeking to persuade the Socialist Party frontrunner in the second round of the presidential election to agree to postponing the vote by one week, until 15th February, citing severe weather that has caused destruction in parts of Portugal.
“No one wants half the country voting while the other half cannot,” Ventura said as he left a lunch with local authority officials elected by Chega in São Bartolomeu de Messines, in the municipality of Silves, where he announced his intention to propose a delay to the second round of the presidential election.
Asked about the issues he intends to raise with Seguro, whom pollster DN/Aximag shows as having victory all but assured, Ventura said that “today we can take the first steps, legally and politically, towards finding a solution in legal terms”.
Questioned on whether this would require the declaration of a state of emergency across the entire national territory, the Chega leader replied that, “regardless of the legal instrument that may be used, we cannot allow part of the country to be disregarded and left to fend for itself”.
The candidate also referred to a meeting of the National Electoral Commission scheduled for today, calling for a consensus to ensure that “people without water, without a roof over their heads, and without access to essential goods are not forced to vote”.
Ventura argued that if any postponement were limited to the worst-affected municipalities, such as Alcácer do Sal, those voters would be treated as “second-class”. He added that there are also citizens who have travelled from areas unaffected by the bad weather to assist with reconstruction efforts and who could likewise be prevented from exercising their right to vote if the second round of the presidential election goes ahead as planned on Sunday, 8 February.
Seguro has responded to the possibility of postponing Sunday’s presidential election, a move that would depend on a collective government declaration of a state of calamity and a subsequent decision by the President of the Republic, with a firm refusal on his part.
The Socialist candidate acknowledged that such a scenario could arise in the municipalities affected by the severe weather, but rejected André Ventura’s call for any postponement to be extended across the entire country.
“Solutions must be found that serve the interests of the Portuguese people within the country’s legal and constitutional framework. It is for the Portuguese authorities to pronounce on this,” Seguro said. “I consider it essential that elections take place. Elections must take place. The Portuguese, all Portuguese, must have the opportunity to vote. Given that early voting took place last week, I see no problem in holding the election at a later date in those municipalities where it cannot be carried out,” he added.
Seguro was speaking to journalists after being urged by his Chega rival to comment on the electoral period in the context of a state of calamity. He said he understood and valued “the decisions taken by each municipality”, specifying that he agreed with the mayor of Alcácer do Sal.
He also made remarks that were widely interpreted as an implicit reference to Ventura, although he declined to be explicit despite repeated questions from reporters. “I see many incentives aimed at discouraging Portuguese voters from turning out. I take the opposite view. I want the Portuguese to vote, and to vote in greater numbers. They cannot leave their decision to others. The worst thing that could happen is for the country to want a President and, on Sunday night, to be left with a nightmare,” he argued, refusing to elaborate further.
Moreover, Seguro agreed with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s recent decision to postpone a visit to Spain. “At a time when the country is facing flooding in places such as Alcácer and Grândola, it is important that he remains in the country,” he said, while criticising the President’s recent trip to the Vatican. “I would not have gone,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday morning, Seguro had already criticised the government’s handling of the situation. Later, he sharpened his tone. “The Portuguese state is not prepared to deal with situations of this nature. I have been completely outside public life for 11 years. But if you ask me whether I am shocked by the state’s inefficiency in responding to the needs of the population, I am. In some cases, I am genuinely outraged, because there are situations that are easy to resolve,” he concluded.
Source: LUSA / DN
