Happy with “this step” by the prime minister, the presidential candidate stressed that the defense of Ukraine is “also the defense of Europe and the defense of Portugal”.
Regarding the sending of Portuguese troops in particular, Jorge Pinto declared himself a “pacifist”, advising “parsimony” in approaching the issue, while at the same time recognizing “pride when Portugal sends its troops to international peace missions”.
“If this scenario arises, a peace mission, a mission where Portuguese troops are part of a group of United Nations troops under international law, very well, we can have that discussion, but we are still far from that, what is needed at this moment is to ensure that we give Ukraine the conditions to continue defending itself, to rebuild itself”, he said.
The decisions taken at this week’s European Council regarding Ukraine are “still fragile [e] perhaps not at the level of what was necessary”, but it is still “good news” and “a step forward”.
“The bad news is that perhaps we were not ambitious enough”, he acknowledged, arguing that Russian sovereign wealth funds could be used to rebuild Ukraine.
Jorge Pinto also commented on the publication of the client list of the candidate for the presidential elections supported by the PSD, considering that “Luís Marques Mendes did the minimum required”.
“I hope that (…) everything that has been released is complete information and that from today to tomorrow we will not be surprised by other news, whether in relation to Marques Mendes or any other candidate”he stressed.
In Mercado de Arroios, one of the most multicultural parishes in the country, Jorge Pinto challenged the “toxic” and “aggressive, exclusionary discourse against those who honor us by wanting to live” in Portugal.
Taking the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, including a fabric poppy, symbol of Livre, although he is certain that he will hear criticism from his party colleagues regarding his five leaves (when he only has four), Jorge Pinto pointed out that “a good welcome, giving people tools to make them welcome, is the best integration policy”, also highlighting Fundão, which he visited on Friday, as another of the “good examples” in the integration of migrant people.
Eleven of the 14 presidential candidacies submitted to the Constitutional Court have already been admitted, with Joana Amaral Dias, José Cardoso and Ricardo Sousa being notified to correct irregularities.
The candidacies of Gouveia e Melo, Marques Mendes, António Filipe, Catarina Martins, António José Seguro, Humberto Correia, André Pestana, Jorge Pinto, Cotrim Figueiredo, André Ventura and Manuel João Vieira are now “in a position to be admitted”.
The presidential elections for Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s successor will take place on January 18th.