AD’s head of the European list, Sebastião Bugalho, gave his candidacy speech this Sunday. “I’m here because I believe in Europe. I am here because I believe in the Europe that Portuguese democracy has helped to build since 1986. And in the Democracy that would not be the same without this European belonging.”
Still talking about the “European dream”, Bugalho recalled Cavaco Silva, who he says was “a young Algarvian from Boliqueime, who got a scholarship to study in England and returned to his country, to later become Prime Minister and President of the Republic. ”
He also spoke of Durão Barroso, “a young man from Almada, who heard the Revolution on the radio and ran to the boathouse, to see Freedom happening, and later become Prime Minister and President of the European Commission.”
Carlos Moedas followed, “a young Alentejo from Beja, who went to Paris to study thanks to the Erasmus program, became an engineer and returned to his country, to later become European Commissioner and Mayor.”
And, finally, a few words about Jorge Moreira da Silva, “a young man of just 28 years old, like me, in 1999, who would be the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Climate Change, and later Minister of the Environment”.
“What I ask of you, here, today, is that you fight with me. Fight with me for this dream. Believe me in this dream, which has to be more than hope, than an ambition, it has to be a reality. Our country has almost 900 years of history, we know what it takes to dream and achieve. We can look back to be inspired and we know how to look forward to know what we want,” she continued.
Regarding criticism from public opinion about being too young, he states: “It seems like they say I’m too young. And it’s true and, as the Prime Minister says, it’s a problem that goes away with time. But the French Prime Minister at the moment is 34 years old, I’m just a candidate for the European Parliament,” he says.
“And that I have been aware of, Dr. Luís Montenegro does not plan to put in the papers for the reform. On the contrary, he is now beginning his journey as Prime Minister and will triumph, leading a Government faithful to his program.”
“Certainly well-intentioned people say that we are taking a risk”, continued Sebastião Bugalho. “And it’s not a lie. Politics is the permanent exercise of risk. Luís Montenegro took a risk when he invited me. And I took a chance when he said yes. It’s also true.”
The candidate talks about Ukraine, which “will increasingly be our sister in Europe” and defends a “getting closer” to the conclusion of the Banking, Capital Markets and Energy Union. “The future of the European Single Market depends on it. Depend on us”.
At the end, he states that “the cure for cancer may not be discovered in a Portuguese laboratory, but it will be a European team, with a Portuguese scientist, who will achieve it”. Or even that “the first flag on Mars may not have our 7 corners, but it will have 12 stars. And one of them will also be ours.”
“A great man once said that ‘to know victory you must know defeat’. But, I am fully convinced: We chose to win”, he concluded.
