In a debate that could have decisive contours for a center, center-right and right-wing electorate, there were accusations from both sides and very little discussion of themes or actions of a future President of the Republic. Monothematic, you could say.
Gouveia e Melo went on the attack, benefiting from the first word and during the first 20 minutes criticism of Marques Mendes was repeated. “I have doubts. Marques Mendes has tried to victimize himself, but he has been the victim of opacities. He did not remember having belonged to a firm that was linked to the Gold visas and Operação Labirinto. Then, he said that he only invoiced, with his company, services to SIC and press conferences. Recently, he clearly said that he had no relationship with Angola and was part of the Angola Desk. It seems that there was a blackout on the Abreu Associados website. There is also an irregular record done in the PSD. You have to explain this to the country. Sponsor interests and should say what your profession is. It’s not a crime, but it has to do with ethics”, said Gouveia e Melo, when attacking.
Luís Marques Mendes praised Gouveia and Melo and then attacked the admiral’s stance on politics. “I gained personal esteem for Gouveia e Melo through the vaccination plan, he did exemplary work and the country owes him a lot. I was one of those who praised him the most in the public space”, he began by saying, using the first argument regarding the polls: “Now, Gouveia e Melo is completely different. In recent months, he has squandered enormous prestige capital. He was one of the most credible people in Portugal. He brought nothing new to politics, he came with the old policy of insinuations. He has no governing experience, but the personality is now this, with permanent insinuations”, he detailed, saying, for the first time, that the admiral has similarities with another candidate: “You have a gun on André Ventura. There was an anonymous complaint against me and the Public Prosecutor’s Office filed it immediately”, he accused, detailing that he had to “work” to live: “I haven’t received a euro from the State in 18 years. At the age of 50, I left politics, dedicated myself to law and then consultancy. There is no relationship between politics and business. I did what no one did: I disclosed all my clients.”
The tune continued. Gouveia e Melo repeated, four times, that Marques Mendes facilitates “lobbying”. “Mr. Marques Mendes is not breaking the law, but he is a lobbyist, he is a lobby facilitator. He has opened doors. You have to show the interests of your clients and cannot be held hostage. It’s a lack of independence. I can say that if I go to the Presidency I will go with complete freedom because I only received salaries from the Armed Forces”, he stressed.
The candidates got lost in the exchange of pennants. Marques Mendes accused Gouveia e Melo of not having an example of political and business promiscuity. Afterwards, António Costa and José Sócrates went to the game. “António Costa has been waiting for months to be told if he is a defendant. In a day and a half you managed to get it archived“, said Gouveia e Melo, later apologizing: “The system, yes, told him that there was nothing to investigate.”
Marques Mendes responded. “He again made a very serious insinuation [influência na Procuradoria-Geral da República]. I repeat that I am not a business facilitator. You are not very popular in the Armed Forces. I never talk about it, because I have no proof. So I’m honest, clean and haven’t had a tax problem. You are worse off than Ventura, you are desperate, you are watching the polls”, he attacked. “He has with him, who is directing his campaign, a political general, who was an advisor to José Sócrates”, said the social democrat.
Ten minutes before the end of the 28th debate, other topics emerged. Gouveia e Melo, using the argument from political experience, attacked Marques Mendes. “He said that the Nationality Law had no problem, but it didn’t pass and went to the Constitutional Court. For anyone with political experience like this, it failed”, responding when Marques Mendes accused him of “zigzagging” in the Defense. “I was the first military member to write publicly that there were underfunding problems. Those in the political sphere argued that the budget should be maintained. Now, everyone comes, because someone from NATO says that it was the 5% mandatory investment, and I’m the one saying that it’s not reasonable. In a naive way, they suggest that the money comes from a well and that it does not affect the Social State“, he pointed out.
In the way they exercise power, Glistened and Melo says he has “independence from party political logic.” “I served the unidivisible State. The partisan logic, which is important, in the Assembly should not be passed on to the Presidential ones. Then, they have to choose between those who served the country for 45 years or those who are business facilitators.”
Marques Mendes responded again, valuing stability. “I’m no less serious than you. I’m not a lobbyist, I’m not a facilitator. 20 years ago I made difficult decisions and removed local candidates. One of them supports this gentleman [Isaltino Morais]. I am a profound supporter of stability, Gouveia e Melo of instability. In Braga, Gouveia e Melo said he would fire Passos Coelho for not fulfilling an electoral promise. This example would imply a second rescue”attacked.
In the possibility raised by Gouveia and Melo de Marques Mendes to face a scenario with an accused prime minister, the social democrat responded: “I don’t respond to scenarios. The Prime Minister has just been cleared of Spinumviva.”
“I said so. Not on principle, but in special circumstances,” Gouveia e Melo explained, blaming Marques Mendes’ words of support for Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who he characterized as “one of those most responsible for the instability.” “I look at you and I don’t see a person from Francisco Sá Carneiro’s PSD. I see a person who protects the rich. I’m running against you because I don’t see myself as President of the Republic”, declared Gouveia e Melo to finish, in the only moment that can be interpreted as an appeal for a useful vote, to the center-right.
In the end, the same note. With the most unfavorable polls, Marques Mendes returned to the argument. “I reach the end of the debate with the conviction that Gouveia e Melo is desperate. He is always in search of party support. These insinuations mean that this person is not the one necessary for the country”, concluded Marques Mendes, who classified the admiral as “desperate” and “André Ventura” three times.