PS leader labelled “emotionally unstable”; CHEGA campaign branded “ridiculous”
Portugal’s exhausted political leaders are showing the strain of the intense campaign that is being plugged by media stations day and night as the country approaches ‘election day’ on Sunday, March 10.
Even last week, a rallying speech by CDS-PP leader Nuno Melo (in alliance with PSD social democrats) encouraged his audience to vote “Pedro Nuno Santos as prime minister!” When he meant (of course) Luís Montenegro…
But this week, even the most ebullient players are showing the signs of wear: CHEGA leader André Ventura – a performer with undeniable stamina – completely mixed up his message yesterday, telling supporters that his mission is “to save Portugal from democracy!” He looked extremely tired when he said it, and immediately corrected himself, managing a smile. But the gaff was registered… and he admitted later that democracy does need a few changes.
Also yesterday, another dynamo of political energy, PS secretary general Pedro Nuno Santos “lamented” what he saw as a personal attack by his ‘rival’, PSD leader Luís Montenegro, who described Santos as “emotionally unstable”.
Commentators agreed that personal remarks are below the belt, and to be avoided, but in this case, Mr Montenegro was referring to the man who issued a government dispatch without checking with the prime minister – and okayed an (illegal) half million euro golden handshake via Whatsapp. There is context.
As the days merge into each other in a haze of repetitive speeches, ‘talking heads’ contracted by television networks analyse every nuance, every gaff – invariably hedging their bets as still no-one can profess to having a clue as to how the ‘chips will fall’ on Sunday.
Political consultant Maria Castello Branco, appearing regularly on SIC Notícias, believes both front-runners for prime minister have, by and large, behaved well. She is not so charitable about CHEGA leader André Ventura, who she accuses of having run “an absurd, a ridiculous campaign”, in which he has been deluded by his own publicity.
If Maria Castello Branco is to be believed, CHEGA won’t emerge with the 20% of the vote suggested by various recent polls. Indeed, she accuses CHEGA leader André Ventura of imitating Bolsonaro/ Trump by trying to say that results (which have still not arrived) could be rigged…
The smaller parties have had less to deal with in the way of gaffs and criticism – although PAN has found itself accused of dealing with party-detractors in a “Stalinist/ Putanist style”.
The assessment came from the PAN mayor of Santa Maria Maior, in Funchal, Madeira, who has now quit the party altogether, “in direct collision with (PAN coordinator) Inês Sousa Real”.
This isn’t the first time PAN’s leader has come under fire from within. Her predecessor André Silva has also left the party after swingeing criticism over the way in which the party, under Sousa Real’s leadership, has ‘lost its backbone’.
In many ways, Sunday cannot come too soon – and, as all the commentators stress, the elections are really the least of the issues stacking up on the horizon, both nationally and internationally.
