Francisco Mendes da Silva handed over his battle card and left the CDS. In a post on his Facebook page, the former CDS leader says he is leaving the party because it no longer wants to be “an up-to-date and autonomous tool, dynamic and modern – and as representative as possible – of the political principles that I advocate.” …

While the CDS, led by Francisco Rodrigues dos Santos, has splintered and will hold a congress in early 2022, there are those who are not willing to wait. “It was a long, deep, purely personal and solitary reflection that came to a conclusion a few days ago, ”writes the lawyer and political columnist.

Despite the perceived distance he maintains with the current leader of the Christian Democrats, Mendes da Silva emphasizes that he does not leave the party “disenchanted or in personal conflict with anyone.” “I am leaving because of my lack of inclination to actively participate in the party at this stage of my life and because of the progressive belief that CDS no longer wants to be a relevant and autonomous instrument, dynamic and modern – and as representative as possible – the political principles that I I am not leaving because I no longer believe in what I have long believed; I am leaving because, believing in what I believe in, I feel that I am no longer useful in – and in – CDS “, – it says.

Adolfo Mesquita Nunez, with whom Mendes da Silva is close, challenged the leadership of Francisco Rodrigues da Silva earlier this year, but the current leader, who chose not to convene an extraordinary congress, ultimately managed to secure a Council vote of confidence. National. The upcoming clash was planned in advance for the next regular congress, which should take place after the municipal ones, at the beginning of next year.

See the full release here:

“I am indebted to the people of Viseu for the information that I resigned as a member of the Viseu Municipal Assembly. I did this because at the previous moment I asked for my resignation from CDS-PP, the party to which I applied for for this mandate.

About this other solution, a small note for those who might be interested:

It was a difficult decision: I joined the CDS, first through the People’s Youth, during the 1995 legislative campaign when I was 15; many of the friends that I like the most are from the hangout; I have a lot of happy memories and will miss the political commitment at CDS.

However, this is a natural decision, which is the result of reflections on my political positions, the evolution of my relationship with the party and the obligations of party life in general. It was a long, deep, strictly personal and solitary reflection that had come to a conclusion a few days ago.

I do not leave disappointed or in personal conflict with anyone. I am leaving due to a lack of inclination to actively participate in the party at this stage of my life and a progressive conviction that CDS no longer wants to be a relevant and autonomous instrument, dynamic and modern – and as representative as possible – the political principles that I advocate. I am not leaving because I no longer believe what I have believed for a long time; I am leaving because, by believing in what I believe in, I feel that I am no longer useful in CDS and in it.

I remain politically active, interested in the changes in the world around me and in understanding how my values ​​and principles can shape and respond to these changes. I will continue to ponder political ideas out loud, subjecting them to a ruthless but challenging test of free and democratic debate. Let’s talk.”