Presidential elections

In the recent local elections, there was a desire to project a strong national image. And since Chega, the newcomer, hastily assembled a bunch of personalities who lacked relevance and local connections, or parachuted in national figures who seemed, and were, repositories of ideological rhetoric that didn't address gardens, sanitation, garbage collection, housing, or property taxes, the result was relatively mediocre.

When, as in Loures, the PS candidate aligned himself with Chega in his discourse on an issue of local importance, he won. But since the PS will not align itself nationally with Chega, nothing has truly changed in relation to the last legislative elections. The idea that we are returning to a two-party system is therefore wishful thinking and nothing more. Unless the PSD dedicates itself wholeheartedly to the task of weakening Chega by buying its banners (something it evidently did on the immigration issue), the recent trend will intensify, and in any case, the PS will provide a lasting cure for the opposition, which will only benefit it and us.

Presidential elections are a different breed of wine and present a problem for sensible people.

After Marcelo, it's impossible to imagine anyone worse than him, hence even Marques Mendes, the most Marcelo-loving of them all, could be included on the list of presidential candidates. None, comma, because António Filipe or Catarina Martins would be worse, but the former is the likeable guardian of a mummified ideology, and the latter a nurse to a patient in an irreversible coma. Recently, Livre, believing that the more candidates the better, also presented its own, I forget the name now. I don't know at the moment if PAN is also presenting a candidate, a question my Cacau could clarify – but I'm not in the mood to ask him. Cotrim would be immensely better than all of these, but the position doesn't suit the character's profile, nor his image, nor his career, nor is the Presidency the place to advance liberal ideas, even if the country is sorely lacking them. The Socialist Party (PS) will return one day (a distant one, I hope) because democracy is built, among other things, on alternation, but the PS of Costa, or Pedro Nuno, will be well relegated to the antiques cupboard.

Anyone who distrusts blind Europeanism, modern left-wing well-meaningness (aka homegrown social democracy), and the latent nitpicking on issues like racism, "gender" equality, affirmative action for minorities, the defense of LGBT+ folklore, and all the paraphernalia of these causes, should carefully consider their vote because all the candidates (except Ventura, who nevertheless is a socialist on economic issues five out of seven days a week) suffer to a greater or lesser degree from these sores on the sound body of correct thinking, but not all of them have the will to respect the limits that the Constitution places on the exercise of their powers, which transforms them into temporary constitutional kings.

Besides Marques, there are three others with the potential to win, and they are Almirante, Ventura, and António José Seguro.

Marques is presented as having vast political experience, implicitly implying that this is a great advantage. He does, undeniably, but it's a matter of political maneuvering, back-and-forth, manipulation, declarations, and speeches, all driven by an anxious gauging of public opinion, always trying to please the largest number of people and pander to patriotism. The Professor served us with this for ten years; it would be desirable that, having learned from it, we not be burdened with another ten years from the student.

From the Admiral, one hears pronouncements about everything and a pair of boots, and "everything" is a torrent of banalities intended to buy off the electoral center, for which he dons his campaign asset: a uniform and his brilliant performance as the nation's chief nurse. However: A uniform doesn't disqualify anyone from holding office, but it doesn't qualify them either; and the capacity to lead a task force for a program presented as a national project justifying the trampling of several constitutionally guaranteed freedoms ensures that the Admiral is capable of commanding a submarine beneath the Arctic or leading a humanitarian mission in Sudan, but that's all. Being the pinnacle of the State and the arbiter of the constitutional power game is another matter entirely.

Ventura is not a candidate for the presidency of the Republic, but for the visibility that the campaign will give him. And, if he were to win, it would be a great misfortune for the growing mass of Chega supporters, because neither can the President lead a party, nor does the party have second figures who can assert themselves as first. One might think that Ventura, in the presidency, would give an extra boost to some of the changes that Chega embodies and that are necessary. But legislative powers are primarily held by the Assembly of the Republic, and executive powers by the Government. Therefore, it is these bodies, and not the presidency, that are the agents of change. Furthermore, the role, however much Marcelo has downplayed it, has a gravitas component that Ventura lacks.

There remains António José Seguro. He has given ample proof of independence because he did not hesitate to subordinate his chances of success in his political career to his convictions, and therefore was not a sycophant of Sócrates; of a disciplined soldier because, having been wronged, he did not come to the public square to lash out against those who (like Costa) stabbed him in the back; and of modesty because he never obsessively cultivated a presence in the media. He is unequivocally a serious man and perhaps a good man, even if very annoying. It doesn't matter, when he speaks you can change the channel, certain that while we watch a movie he is taking care not to do or say anything stupid.

He's a socialist and the Socialist Party will support him? Yes, perfection isn't of this world, and besides, the support is hardly sincere. But he won't be an obstacle to the changes that legitimate majorities and governments want to implement; I don't believe he's a different person on stage than he is behind the scenes; he doesn't consider himself a providential figure; and, above all, I don't think he'll bring his usual Socialist Party to Belém Palace.

Does it have some sulphurous companions, like the passionate fool Ana Gomes? Yes. But I don't stop going to a restaurant that serves well there just because there are some undesirable people among the clientele.

For me, until further notice, this is enough. And if something better comes along, I'll be here.

Editorial note: The views expressed by the authors of the articles published in this column may not be fully endorsed by all members of the Freedom Workshop and do not necessarily reflect the Freedom Workshop 's position on the topics discussed. Although they share a common vision of the State, which they want to be small, and the world, which they want to be free, the members of the Freedom Workshop and their guest authors do not always agree on the best way to achieve that goal.