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SDP candidate Paulo Rangel said in an interview with TVI that “the country does not realize that there is a political crisis” and that “this is undesirable”, but that the government has to “negotiate with leftist partners.” The European Parliament also considers “a political crisis is very unlikely“And he adds that even if there was a political crisis, it would not have affected the need for the SDP to continue its course of internal clarification.”

Paulo Rangel says the political crisis is “a highly speculative scenario” and that “the SDP is not at risk of not having a strong leadership if the elections are held in February or March.” On whether he will be ready for this candidacy, including drawing up an electoral program, the MEP says that “the SDP has a program”, which is an allusion to the “general lines” of the party, and not to the electoral program that Rui Rio adhered to. votes in 2019.

For the former parliamentary leader of the SDP – here on the same line as Rui Rio – “The SD cannot approve the budget,” arguing that “the SDP is the opposition, and this budget is a bad budget.” According to Paulo Rangel, among a number of other problems that he points out in the strategy document, “tax incentives are very limited.”

The MEP says he is “in no mood” to re-nominate Rui Rio, he says he has “personal and political respect” for the current leader (whom he has known for over 20 years) and that “whatever decision he makes” will be respected with “great modesty.” “If he is a candidate, I will run with him; otherwise, I will definitely comply with this decision, ”he adds.

Regarding the candidacy for the European Championship in Rio, Rangel recalled that he was a candidate for Ferreira Leite, Passos Coelho and Rui Rio, and that they all chose him because he is “a loyal employee who works with all presidents, but is free.” … … And he added that “he did not fail to criticize privately and in government bodies” when he disagreed with them.

The MEP recalls that he did not support Rui Rio in 2017, but supported him in 2019, because the leader promised that he would look for a “party congregation” and would bet on the local authorities. Without escaping as expected, he left. Paulo Rangel, however, adds that there has always been a ‘difference’ between the two: “We had disagreements on the issue of justice and on the issue of freedom of the press and the role of the media, we have always had very distant positions.“.

Continuing to talk about the differences between the two, Rangel says “it’s a matter of tone of voice,” adding that “when a leader decides to end the biweekly debate, we’re not talking about tone of voice, but about the concept of democracy and the role of parliament.” “I would even agree, as a compromise, that the debates with the Prime Minister in the format in which they were, will be postponed to a monthly one,” the MEP defends.

The MEP says that the SDP should never have abandoned this debate with a government like Antonio Costa, which controls instincts throughout society, seeks to dominate the entire society in an alarming way, whether in the areas of social communication or in the areas of justice. , or in the area of ​​the agenda ”. Paulo Rangel says he held “dozens of biweekly debates” with Jose Socrates and managed to remove a majority from the then socialist prime minister.

Regarding the fact that he is not an MP, Rangel guarantees that he will be “the president of the party, who will be present in parliament, I will use my office, I will be there every week, I will meet with all MPs, I will determine the strategy with them “.

Rangel says there are no personal attacks “on your side”. Yes, there is another project that aims to unite the SDP and create “a more stable, more visible, more effective opposition” and “present an alternative that gives hope to the Portuguese.”

Regarding his strategy, Rangel insists that the SDP is “the party by the calling of the majority” and that uniting the party and creating a “tough, violent but responsible opposition” and providing an “alternative to hope” for the Portuguese can help “be the party of the majority.” However, he adds that “PSD has never been and will never be closed to entering into agreements with either CDS as the preferred partner, or possibly with the Liberal Initiative if necessary.” When asked if he had left Chegal, Rangel answered clearly: “That’s right.”

Paulo Rangel wants votes from the center, including the center-left, but says he also wants to include a space from center-right to moderate-right, which Rui Rio ignored. “There will never be a radical party in the SDP government,” the MEP admits. The SDP leadership candidate says that “Portugal had several minority governments” and recalled that “the first government of Cavaco Silva, which was very successful, had 29%.” Even so, according to Rangel, the center-right “has all the conditions for an absolute majority, with 42.43%,” but if this does not happen, “there are conditions for governance and, in another case, for achieving this majority.”

Rangel reports that “at the end of July there were two or three attacks” by black campaigns, so he was not a candidate for the leadership of the SDP, but he believes it to be. “neat chapter“. On the fact that as a politician he must acknowledge homosexuality, Paulo Rangel insisted that he did not want to talk about his personal life anymore, although he said that it would be abnormal for him to talk about it, but “it’s still great and it is necessary. “

When asked if he would get the support of Pedro Passos Coelho, Paulo Rangel replied that he “cannot speak” on behalf of the former leader of the SDP and therefore does not know if his former opponent supports him: “I don’t know if you support me or not“. Rangel says he “speaks often with Passos Coelho” and has a “very pleasant relationship” with him, but he did not seek advice from the former SDP leader because the candidate should not “seek guardianship.”

Rangel says he wants to promote PSD “unity” and that he doesn’t need to mentor anyone to do so. “The main task is to show a single SDP,” says the candidate for the leadership of the SDP.