With many party leaders seemingly fighting for headlines (and possibly even for relevance), Rui Rocha of Iniciativa Liberal has challenged former Naval Chief of Staff Henrique Gouveia e Melo to ‘come to the surface’ and explain what he wants, and what he thinks. Speaking in Ílhavo, Rui Rocha described the former submarine commander as “a kind of submarine of Portuguese politics, who doesn’t know what he wants or what he thinks (…) being in the depths can be a good tactic for certain military situations, but in politics you have to be open-faced, saying what you defend, confronting your adversaries, informing the Portuguese people”. Rocha went on to criticise PS Socialists for “not knowing” what they stand for and being “completely disoriented” on the issue of the presidential elections. To be fair, Henrique Gouveia e Melo has never minced his words; he is simply not rushing into a race that won’t truly begin until after the municipal elections in September / October.
Iniciativa Liberal challenges Admiral to ‘declare interest in running for presidency’
Rui Rocha in Ílhavo: image: Paulo Novais/ Lusa
