When late yesterday afternoon AD and PS revealed their lists for the June European Championships, surprise was the most immediate reaction. Above all because, once again, the almost absolute certainties that spread like wildfire were roundly denied by the facts.
More interesting, however, will be to observe the second moment of the revelation of Sebastião Bugalho and Marta Temido as heads of the AD and PS lists, respectively, which mark a break with the past on both sides of the barricade. On the one hand, because they demonstrate the attitude that dominates structures on the right and left, on the other, because they reveal how the narrative proposed in recent years by the socialist communication machine, which remains strong even after nine years of misgovernment, took root. that everything that comes from the other half of the Chamber is bad and not very advisable.
From an internal point of view, we must immediately regret the “apprehension” on the right, assumed of the DN by the Social Democrats themselves, and the very public uneasiness of both Rui Moreira and those who rejected him as a candidate when President Marcelo himself made him believe he would be chosen. And that contrasts completely with the silence of the PS when the choice of secretary general fell on a militant who was about to debut, to the detriment of senator Assis and the former future candidate for leader Ana Catarina Mendes (numbers two and three on the list ), and without even sparing those who had an active voice and established work in Europe — from Maria Manuel Leitão Marques to the current vice-president of the European Parliament, Pedro Silva Pereira.
But it is truly curious to see how the candidates were received abroad — and how the choices of both sides were read. Sebastian, the newcomer whose greatest talent is “being known”, being “a kid” and getting along with those who think differently on comment boards. Marta, the chosen one who led us during the pandemic, for whose value Lisbon was ultimately too small, a “return” of someone with “broad political experience”.
Apparently, the much desired youth and renewal and the bet on independents who come from outside the party machine do not go down well, unlike dependence and careerism that is said to not work and that we want to change. Even if the “experience” is reduced to a mediocre ministerial performance.
Overkill? Even though no one questions his intelligence and combativeness, Sebastião is seen as a risk and had the right to have his ability, competence and even suitability questioned; even hollow accusations that ended in shelving were recovered for the media stages, along with the moments, described in detail, in which he accused Prata Roque of lying to the Portuguese and “raised his voice” against the arguments of his fellow panelists. Yes, that’s serious!
Unlike the apparently forgotten disasters of Covid management, the mortality and excesses of the pandemic under Temido’s leadership, the chaos in which he left the SNS, the implosion of the PPP and the mass dismissals of the directors of practically all large public hospitals of the country, of the nurses whom she called “criminals” when she was asked to negotiate with them, of the doctors who she accused of being “mushy” and who wanted to force them to be tied to public hospitals, of the pregnant woman who died and who ended up dictating her removal from the Health portfolio.
What do each of them think about European politics, what do they defend about the position that Portugal should have in the Union, how do they plan to defend their country’s interests, what do they believe they can add to that forum that so often proves to be light years away from life? of citizens, what causes he will bring to the table… None of this matters when one can speculate about how betrayed Moreira felt.
Which perhaps helps explain why the public channel considered it not worth covering the launch of Joana Amaral Dias’ candidacy, by ADN…
Editorial director
