Luís Montenegro presents the Executive’s organization next Thursday, the 28th
Paulo Macedo in Finance, Paulo Rangel in Foreign Affairs and Ana Paula Martins in Health. These are some of the names highlighted by some as likely and as ideal by others to lead the new Government’s portfolios. Luís Montenegro presents the Executive’s organic report next Thursday, the 28th.
Whoever heads the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Finance and Economy will be an “essential piece”, warns Rui Calafate. Managing the application of the PRR is no less important, since, as he recalls, “there are billions that have to be implemented”.
The Democratic Alliance Government will have “a political combat side”. And, to this end, the CNN Portugal commentator, who does not mention names for all the folders as the organic one is not yet known, believes that Luís Montenegro will want people who have already followed him on his side. This is the case of António Leitão Amaro, who nominates a future minister, without mentioning a portfolio.
But it is not just people from within the party who should form this Executive. The leader of the Democratic Alliance could “try to bring together figures from society, independent and recognized by civil society”, particularly in the Economy. “Montenegro could surprise with a name outside the PSD”, says Rui Calafate, alluding to the goal of economic growth and “full” functioning of the coalition’s companies.
This may, however, be a difficult feat for Luís Montenegro to achieve. “The uncertainty about how long the Government will last may scare some names that could be useful”, says the commentator, guaranteeing that the Executive “starts from a scenario of great instability”.
And, while “taking advantage of this time to think and form the Government”, the future Prime Minister should also think about “strengthening the feminine side”. Inês Domingos and Ana Paula Martins are two names mentioned by Rui Calafate.
Finance Ministry
For Rui Calafate, Paulo Macedo would be “a very strong asset” to Luís Montenegro in the Finance portfolio. “It would be a value that would be recognized by the Portuguese for the talent demonstrated”, he points out, commenting on news that advances the executive president of Caixa-Geral de Depósitos to the position. Still, the CNN Portugal commentator admits he has “doubts” about whether this will be possible.
This is also “the perfect name” by Mafalda Anjos, taking into account “the accumulated experience” and good knowledge of the dossiers. “He is a man with an extraordinary CV and practical results that are unquestionably good. In the fiscal machine he achieved a feat that lasts until today – oiling and restructuring from within”, she states.
Rui Pedro Antunes, political editor at Observador, explains that Joaquim Miranda Sarmento has always been “Mr. Finance of the PSD” and that he could be a name to be nominated for this portfolio. “Over the years he represented the PSD. He is a kind of shadow Minister of Finance since Rui Rio and recovered by Montenegro”, he says, guaranteeing that “any choice other than this, will always be outside the box”.
Ministry of Economy
Pedro Reis, former executive secretary of the Strategic Council for the Internationalization of the Economy and former president of AICEP, is the name that both Rui Pedro Antunes and Mafalda Anjos consider likely for the Economy portfolio.
It would be “an option for the house’s silver”, explains the Observador’s political editor. For Mafalda Anjos, Pedro Reis can “make a good portfolio” because he has “skills for the place”. “More important than being a renowned figure in the economy or with political experience is being a person who knows the terrain, the companies, the economic fabric”, she reiterates.
The commentator adds that the Ministry of Economy should not be in the hands of a figure from the Liberal Initiative. “It is a portfolio that is too important to fulfill the AD program and must be a figure aligned with the PSD’s positions”, she guarantees.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Despite being a candidate for leadership of the social democratic bench, Hugo Soares is the ideal name for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, says Mafalda Anjos. “It was fair that Hugo Soares stayed here, because he has accumulated experience and could make a good portfolio as the pivot of a right-wing contraption, a bridge of contact between parties that can support approvals”, he explains, saying that to lead the bench AD “I would find someone else.”
If the choice of Hugo Soares as parliamentary leader is confirmed, the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio could lose weight. Rui Pedro Antunes says it. “Such a strong name as a parliamentary leader ends up emptying the political weight of Parliamentary Affairs”, he recognizes.
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Neither commentator Mafalda Anjos nor Rui Pedro Antunes can suggest a name for the Ministry of Internal Administration. The Observador’s political editor recalls that the name of José Matos Correia was mentioned as possible, but that the president of the PSD Jurisdictional Council admitted he was not interested.
defense Ministry
Former minister José Pedro Aguiar-Branco would be the ideal Defense Minister, says Mafalda Anjos. However, as he will be the PSD candidate for the presidency of the Assembly of the Republic, the commentator points out a second option – “eventually Nuno Melo could be a good name”.
Mafalda Anjos highlights the CDS president’s “experience as an MEP” as a “determining” factor. “It would be a good way to incorporate Nuno Melo into this Government, as it is an area that has a point of contact with Europe”, she explains.
Although the name of the CDS president is on the table for Defense, Rui Pedro Antunes believes it is “more possible” that Nuno Melo will stay with Agriculture, not nominating someone else for this portfolio.
Ministry of the Environment
For the Ministry of the Environment, the ideal figure would be, according to Mafalda Anjos, “someone from civil society”. Without being able to name a name, the CNN Portugal commentator explains that the environment is not at the “first line of concerns” of the new Government. “AD and environment is a huge handicap,” she assures.
The Observador’s political editor, who also does not know a likely name, admits that it could be someone younger as it is “a fight for the younger generations”. However, Rui Pedro Antunes doubts whether the Government will allow it.
Justice ministry
Justice should have, in the Democratic Alliance Government, not a minister, but a minister of State. This is said by Mafalda Anjos, who talks about the importance of the folder. “It’s a fundamental portfolio and so much reform is needed, that’s why he should be a minister of state to have added importance.”
“And it must be someone who knows the inside, there is no time to go in and look at the files”, he warns.
Thus, for the commentator, the ideal figure is “a former Attorney General of the Republic”, given the “accumulated experience of having worked” for the entity. “Everything except Lucília Gago”, she adds.
Rui Pedro Antunes believes that the name of constitutionalist Raquel Brízida Castro “would have to be considered” for having coordinated the PSD’s National Strategic Council, in the areas of Justice and Regulation.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The name of Paulo Rangel is consensual for Mafalda Anjos and Rui Pedro Antunes. “Paulo Rangel, without a doubt”, said the commentator, highlighting the MEP’s “experience” and “competence” to assume the reins of the position.
This is also for Rui Pedro Antunes the “strongest name” for this portfolio, given his “experience and notoriety at European level”. The Observador’s political editor recalls, however, that in November this year the next European Commission will take office, in which Paulo Rangel may aspire to be.
“It would be good for Paulo Rangel to be Minister of Foreign Affairs if he has ambitions to one day lead the country. It is a challenging portfolio and voters usually like it and elect him as one of the best ministers in the Government”, he explains.
Ministry of Culture
Mafalda Anjos “would like” there to be a social-democratic Ministry of Culture, remembering that, as a rule, PSD governments only had a State secretariat dedicated to the topic. This would be, for Rui Pedro Antunes, “an important sign that the right does not devalue”.
And, if so, Jorge Barreto Xavier, the former Secretary of State for Culture, was the ideal name for the commentator. “I don’t know if I would be available because I’m in Saudi Arabia, but it would be a good role. He was a great Secretary of State”, she explains.
Ministry of Education
The Observador’s political editor says that the next Minister of Education must be someone who shows “openness”, taking into account the struggle of teachers.
For Rui Pedro Antunes, Alexandre Homem Cristo, who was a parliamentary advisor at the Assembly of the Republic and advisor at the National Education Council, would be a likely choice for Luís Montenegro, as he knows the area and has developed an “opinion and thought” about it. Furthermore, he would meet the two criteria that have been mentioned for this ministry – being independent and being someone from civil society.
Mafalda Anjos does not give a name.
Ministry of Labor and Social Security
Cecília Meireles is the name that Mafalda Anjos would like to see announced for the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. She was a CDS deputy and Secretary of State for Tourism in the PSD/CDS Government, having shown “competence” and “solidity”, in addition to “studying well” the dossiers and containing “a side of important humanism”.
Currently, she is away from party life in the active sense, continuing as a commentator, and has stated that she prefers to focus on her personal life.
Rui Pedro Antunes does not know a likely figure for the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Ministry of Health
The name of Miguel Guimarães, former president of the Order of Doctors, has already been mentioned as a possible Minister of Health, something that Mafalda Anjos does not agree with. “It would be a bad choice because of the way he conducted his term as president, he played politics instead of what was his responsibility and I don’t like seeing people usurp functions”, she explains.
The commentator speaks, instead, of José Martins Nunes, as the ideal choice. At issue is the “accumulated experience”, as Secretary of State for Health in the Government of Cavaco Silva, and the “inside” knowledge of the SNS, from working as president of the Hospital and University Center of the University of Coimbra.
Ana Paula Martins is the name indicated as probable by Rui Calafate and Rui Pedro Antunes. The former president of the Order of Pharmacists and former president of the board of directors of Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte is, for the commentator, a “competent person” and “accredited for health”, says the CNN Portugal commentator.
Rui Pedro Antunes adds that Ana Paula Martins “knows the SNS” and that the Government “needs to have women”.
Ministry of Housing
If it is “an isolated Ministry”, Rui Pedro Antunes considers Rita Alarcão Júdice to be a likely choice by Luís Montenegro for the Housing portfolio. At issue is the coordination of the area within the PSD’s National Strategic Council, which gave the former PLMJ partner experience.
Filipa Roseta, a name that also circulates, is “less consensual”, he says.
Mafalda Anjos confesses that she cannot find a name for the Housing department.
Ministry of Agriculture
Rui Pedro Antunes believes it is “possible” that Nuno Melo will occupy the Agriculture portfolio.
For Mafalda Anjos, the CDS leader is better in Defense, but the commentator also rules out Eduardo Oliveira e Sousa, from the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers, for this portfolio. “It would be a bad choice not to realize from the outset that something like climate change is taking place and this is crucial when making decisions in matters of agriculture”, he says.
Ministry of Infrastructure
For both Mafalda Anjos and Rui Pedro Antunes, Miguel Pinto Luz is a likely name for the Infrastructure portfolio. “He has political ambition and was involved in the airport issue in the Passos Coelho Government, it is a name that makes sense”, says the commentator.
The Observador’s political editor says that the current vice-president of the Cascais City Council “has always been the party’s Mr Infrastructure”.
Tags: Paulo Macedo Paulo Rangel Ana Paula Martins Montenegros ideal team
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