Pedro Nuno accuses the Government of being a “focus of instability” and wanting early elections | Government

Pedro Nuno Santos, general secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), accused the Government of Luís Montenegro of being a “focus of instability” that “is in combat with everyone”. “It seems to me that the Government wants to have elections”, said the socialist, in an interview with SIC’s Jornal da Noite, on Monday night.

After recalling the PS’s availability to facilitate an amending budget that responded to the unions’ main demands, he underlined that the party wants to cooperate, recalling the agreement to elect the President of the Assembly of the Republic, but should not be “demonized” for having “initiatives to to present”.

Asked whether he would like to return to the polls as soon as possible, Pedro Nuno Santos denied this and took the opportunity to redirect the provocation to the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro: “Not us, we are doing our job. Whoever seems to me wants to have elections is the Government.”

He went further and accused the Government of “political incompetence” and “disorientation”, recalling the recent dismissals in the National Health Service and Santa Casa da Misericórdia. “We have in health a promotion of dismissal, then the dismissed executive director is required to present a summer plan, then the summer plan, after all, already existed, it is the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Health.. .”, he criticized.

Regarding the upcoming European elections, he assured that the PS “wants to win”, but does not see the election for the European Parliament as a “national barometer”. He highlighted his confidence in Marta Temido, head of the list, who he described as “a great candidate, with proven evidence”. “DIt also gives us confidence, because we are sure that the Portuguese people have a good memory”, he stated.

Public Ministry must be scrutinized in Parliament

The socialist leader considers that Lucília Gago should not be heard in relation to “specific cases”, but that the activity of the Public Prosecutor’s Office should be scrutinized in Parliament. “Indeed, [o MP] has to present the annual report in Parliament”, he added.

“Now, there can be an assessment of the actions of the different judicial agents. It was just what was missing that we couldn’t do. And from the outset the Assembly of the Republic, where the laws are created”, he defended, remembering the “initiative of several personalities” who launched the debate on the actions of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Pedro Nuno Santos stated that there should be no “dogmas” in the discussion of Justice and politicians should not “be afraid to hold this debate for fear of being accused of wanting to interfere”. He also highlighted that this is a matter on which it is “very important that the Socialist Party and the PSD can meet”.