Carneiro concerned about the Government's program

The sole candidate for secretary general of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, is concerned that the Government's program includes proposals that were not in the electoral program of the AD — PSD-CDS/PP Coalition.

“There is something that worried me and it has to do with the fact that the Government brought proposals to the Government program that were not in the electoral program , nor were they in the electoral discussion, namely in relation to labor issues, the right to strike, for example, and also in health, with regard to the revision of the Basic Health Law”, said, this Monday, in Guarda, the also socialist deputy in the Assembly of the Republic to the Lusa news agency.

José Luís Carneiro was speaking to journalists at the entrance to the presentation session of his candidacy for the leadership of the PS, which took place in the auditorium of the former Parish Council of São Miguel da Guarda. For the socialist, “when we have an election campaign and these issues are not discussed, and now, in the Government's programme, these issues appear, this means hiding from voters aspects, dimensions , which, if voters had been aware of them, might have had a different voting intention”.

“What I am saying to the Government is that trust is a very thin ice , it is a subject that requires great sensitivity, it is a very sensitive subject and, therefore, I would suggest that the Government have good explanations to give to Parliament in relation to matters of this nature”, he warned. José Luís Carneiro is waiting for the Government’s “explanations”, but stressed that this matter “deserves our censure without a shadow of a doubt” .

In Guarda, before a well-composed room, the only candidate for PS secretary-general came to hear contributions from members, supporters and representatives of society. “I was in Viseu and Bragança [on Sunday] and I have received a lot of contributions that allow us to improve the strategy motion itself , namely on how to combat inequalities, asymmetries, and, in the case of Guarda, how we can develop policies to create life opportunities in the interior, which stimulate greater social justice, increasing salaries, keeping young people in these territories , finding opportunities for companies to invest and create jobs”, he stated.

José Luís Carneiro stated that these sessions to present his candidacy have been “an extraordinary moment of dialogue, with a lot of participation” and that they show that, “to a certain extent, there was a need to meet activists, supporters and people from civil society”

Regarding the presidential elections and support for António José Seguro's candidacy, presented on Sunday, the candidate for leader of the PS reiterated that the party's position will be taken at the “opportune moment” . “At this moment, our greatest concern and priority are the local elections, which are the great democratic support of the country and the great political base of the PS”, he justified.