Gonçalo Valente, re-elected November 26 with 96% of the SDP activists in Beja, says the region “needs” to have social democrat-led city councils.
What made you re-run for president of the Beja constituency for the SDP?
I have never hidden the great love I have for my region, and as soon as possible I responded positively to the challenge of the SDP in the sense of helping the region in its weaknesses. This is exactly what I have been doing since 2019, with the activation of the JSD, several sections of the JSD district, the PSD section in Almodóvar, with the election of more representatives to the municipalities, with the restoration of many militants who were aloof from the participation policy. We also managed to reach a critical mass for a more active participation in the party. In short, I can say that the motive for my re-election was precisely the opportunity to continue the work that my team had already done and which was reflected in the percentage of votes that we were able to get in this election, 96%.
What is the highest priority for this mandate?
Unite people and ideals in the sense that we can create conditions for increasing political weight in the region from 2025. I believe that “the path is paved by walking”, and also that there is still much to be done in the area. At the moment we have many needs that need to be pointed out and it is vital that we continue to fight for them, among which I highlight the need for more continuing care units and the lack of health professionals. Our hospital is the only district hospital in the country that does not have an MRI machine. We have to improve the Beja airport and we need to electrify the railway. We need a motorway connection to Beja airport and we also need to benefit from the “triangulation” of Porto de Sines-Alqueva-Beja airport which is underused. Thus, it is a set of priorities that complement each other.
“Just as I believe more in the sociology of the field than the secretary story, I also believe that in order to help people, we need to be closer to them.”
He says he wants to “leave the party where it deserves to be, run for election to win.” What is your strategy for this?
First of all, I must emphasize that I want to run for elections in order to win, exclusively for the region, and not power for the sake of power. PSD is the means by which we propose to improve the lives of the inhabitants of the Lower Alentejo. Therefore, we must always remember that a political party is the best tool we have at our disposal to better serve the people who are the true center of political action. My strategy involves a deep knowledge of the needs of the area, because only in this way can we arm ourselves with the most appropriate means to solve the problems and challenges that currently exist in the area, and there are quite a few of them. I intend, in line with what I have always done, to maintain a transparent and serious attitude so that people continue to trust us. Just as I believe more in field sociology than secretary storytelling, I also believe that in order to help people, we need to be closer to them. We have to experience their problems and really feel what people feel.
Do you think there will be conditions for the SDP to again lead the city council in the region in 2025?
Of course yes! I am sure of it, and I also feel that the region has such a need. And from what I’m diagnosing, people now more than ever are aware of this shortcoming.
In Beja, the SDP-led coalition serves as a “balance point” in the PS-led executive with the same number of advisers as the CDU. How do you rate the performance of Nuno Palma Ferro?
Councilman Nuno Palma Ferro, with nobility and great responsibility, performed the function, as he rightly said, “the keeper of the balance.” He showed great accessibility and commitment to someone who loves his land. Without departing from social democratic ideals, he managed to give priority to what his municipality really interests – its development.
Did Luis Montenegro bring new enthusiasm to the party?
Luis Montenegro showed himself as a leader close to the structures and bases of the SDP, but, in fact, to the Portuguese. He was sharply opposed, reacting in a timely manner to the actions as well as to the inertia of the government, often putting pressure on him to take measures that he considered necessary for the good of the country.
Looking at the region, what worries you the most?
Undoubtedly and in general terms, territorial discrimination! I’m talking about oblivion, for which the central government constantly votes for us. Sometimes it seems to me that Alentejo as a whole is part of another country, different from the one that so often lives only by three F’s: Fatima, Football and Fado. And what a sad fate we have that without stadiums and patrons we fall into oblivion so many times. From a practical point of view, my main concern is the exodus of people from rural areas, which is a direct consequence of the aging of the population and the decline in investment in the region.
Yesterday, financial agents evaluated the opposite decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) regarding the so-called secret budget. In addition, a decision was made by STF Minister Gilmar Méndez to issue an injunction that would exclude the Bolsa Família from the spending cap rule, with investors trying to understand how this measure would affect the processing of the transitional PEC in the Chamber of Deputies. Oh this PEC!!!!
Since he is an exchange investor, any reading that the budget will be exceeded or become more flexible will negatively affect the exchange market, whether through the PEC or in any other way. We will continue with volatility today.
Looking beyond, the US Central Bank (Fed), although slowing down the pace of monetary tightening at its December meeting, issued a tougher-than-expected statement warning that its fight against inflation was not yet over, raising fears that rising US interest rates will push the world’s largest economy into recession.
The currency market continues to react to political news. The voting on the PEC is saved for today. It is expected that it will indeed be reviewed to open the way tomorrow for discussions on the 2023 budget.
Yesterday, the spot price closed the selling day at R$5.3103.
For today on the calendar we will have an index of consumer confidence in the eurozone. Good luck and good luck in business!!
The former president of the Corinthians dreams of working for the CBF as a national team coordinator. He was consulted shortly after Lula’s election.
Former Corinthians president Andrés Sánchez was advised to take a position in the Ministry of Sports under the administration of Lula (PT). However, he ruled out a return to politics. dreams of taking over the coordination of CBF selectionHow do you know PURPOSE.
No formal invitation was made to the former Corinthian representative, only a consultation on a portfolio opportunity with the new federal government, which will be sworn in on January 1, 2023.
Andrés was the Federal MP for São Paulo from 2015 to 2019. At that time he was elected by the Workers’ Party. However, the football manager begs to stay in the sport, ruling out the possibility of getting involved in politics again.
Andrés Sanchez’s desire is to fill the position of CBF tackle coordinator, which should become vacant after the 2022 World Cup. Juninho Paulista fulfills this function in Brazil’s top football institution.
The former president of Corinthians was in Qatar to follow the World Cup along with other figures in Brazilian football. During his time in the country, he strengthened his ties with the top leadership of the CBF.
BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 19 (ANSA). European Union countries reached a political agreement on Monday (19) to impose a natural gas price ceiling of 180 euros per megawatt hour (MWh). The main sources of income for Russia and the minimization of the use of energy as a weapon by the regime of Vladimir Putin.
The agreement was approved by a supermajority at a ministerial meeting of member states in Brussels, Belgium, after months of discussions about the best way to contain the rise in natural gas prices in the bloc caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. .
The value set by the countries is well below the proposal made by the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, in November: 275 EUR/MWh. However, the countries leading the cap campaign were in favor of an even lower limit, around 100 EUR/MWh.
Germany, always wary of price controls, voted in favor of 180 euros, while Austria and the Netherlands, also skeptical of the cap, abstained. Hungary, the most pro-Russian country in the EU, voted against.
The instrument will enter into force on 15 February, but only if natural gas prices on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange exceed 180 euros/MWh for three consecutive days. In addition, the difference compared to a number of global benchmarks should be more than 35 euros.
Italy, the EU’s biggest supporter of the ceiling, has claimed responsibility for the measure. “This is a victory for Italy, which believed and worked for us to reach this agreement,” Environment and Energy Minister Gilberto Picetto tweeted.
“This is a victory for Italian and European citizens who demand energy security,” he added.
Currently, the gas price in Amsterdam is around 110 EUR/MWh, which is already a reflection of the agreement in Brussels – in August the figure even broke the barrier of 340 EUR/MWh.
However, Russia has already threatened to stop exports to countries that adhere to the ceiling. (ANSA).
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