Bugalho says he is “the most scrutinized candidate”, but admits that Temido is more | European elections

Sebastião Bugalho, head of the Democratic Alliance list in the run-up to the European elections, was on SIC Notícias, the channel where he worked as a political commentator, this Wednesday. In a short interview in which the journalist seemed strange because he was interviewing “a friend” and no questions were asked about the European Union, the candidate chosen by Luís Montenegro chose not to talk about his vision for Europe, stating that he was just there “saying goodbye to the Portuguese” who followed him as a commentator. The hitherto chronicler of Express he considered himself the “most scrutinized” candidate, only “perhaps” behind Marta Temido, head of the PS list, “for having been a minister”.

In the interview, the SIC journalist noted that, although they have been “friends for several years” he has never known “European thinking”. Sebastião Bugalho assured that he has it, but insisted on keeping the interview in a farewell style. Although he has not held any political position (he was a candidate for the CDS in the 2019 legislative elections, but was not elected), Bugalho is convinced that the Portuguese know him.

“My opinions have been known for nine years,” he stated, praising himself for his “so assertive” stance. “I never pretended that I was left-wing or that I wasn’t conservative,” declared Bugalho. Recognizing that it is legitimate to question his choice, Bugalho, however, dismisses a pessimistic scenario: “No critic says we are going to lose.”

Faced with statements made by him as a commentator, in which he pointed to Paulo Portas, former leader of the CDS-PP, as the only name “capable of contesting that election for the space of the democratic right”, Bugalho joked and admitted that, in October, it was that your opinion. “But the circumstances were different. António Costa’s government had not fallen”, he explained.

According to the candidate, it was only on Monday afternoon that he unexpectedly received the invitation from Luís Montenegro. Proving his surprise is… his haircut. “I was going on vacation. I even shaved my hair,” he repeated at least twice. “Everything happens very quickly,” said the candidate. The head of the Democratic Alliance list also informed that he was not involved in the process of choosing the remaining candidates for the European Parliament.

Faced with the fact that he was on SIC Notícias and Express as a chronicler during the last electoral campaign, giving notes to the candidates after the television duels, Bugalho (who until now had a professional journalism card) stressed that he did not write news, but only “chronicles and opinion”, comparing himself to Ana Gomes or Catarina Martins, who also commented on the debates. The two, however, were admittedly linked to parties.

Asked about possible support for António Costa for a candidacy for the European Council, Bugalho said it would be “inelegant” to take a position without speaking to his Democratic Alliance team (read, the remaining list of candidates for the European Parliament). However, he recalled that when António Costa was an MEP (for just a few months, between 2004 and 2005) he declared his support for Durão Barroso in his candidacy for the European Commission. “Reciprocity is a good principle,” he concluded.