PS "you have all the time in the world to decide"

Presidential candidate António José Seguro considered, this Thursday, that the PS has “all the time in the world to decide” what to do about the race for Belém, stating that he has many people with him inside and outside the party.

Former PS secretary-general António José Seguro, who this week announced his entry into the presidential race, made his last comment tonight in the Liberdade section of CNN, in which he said that the presentation of his candidacy for Belém will be made on June 15, in Caldas da Rainha.

“I am a free man. I have said it many times. I have absolutely no ties and I believe that this is an election in which people express their convictions, their ideas, their vision of the country. And so I didn’t have to wait for anyone. I had to be myself,” he explained.

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According to Seguro, there are “many people” who support him, within the PS, but also in other parties, mentioning that opinion polls point to the support he has “in all electorates of all parties” and the recognition of the “consensus characteristic”.

“Now the Socialist Party will decide in the best way. The Socialist Party is in a difficult situation, which is not easy. And therefore, it has all the time in the world to decide what it should do in these presidential elections,” he assured.

Asked whether he would understand if the PS did not formally support the candidacy of a former secretary general of the party, such as himself, the socialist said that “this is a principle that exists in the PS”.

“But I am not here on behalf of the Socialist Party. I do not speak for the Socialist Party. What I can tell you is that I feel that voters, members, leaders, mayors and mayors are very sympathetic and satisfied with my availability and my candidacy,” he stressed.

Regarding his reflection and decision-making, the former PS leader pointed out that he lives off his salary and his work and any decision he made would have an impact because he does not live off politics.

“And then there is the other dimension. If I should. And what did that have to do with it? It had to do with the changes in conditions that occurred, namely with the 18th of May. And knowing, from what I understand, which is the role of the President of the Republic, whether or not I am in a position to do what I like most, which is to promote consensus, create conditions for conciliation, so that people can resolve the problems of the Portuguese people once and for all”, he explained.

After speaking with different people, Seguro felt he had “a duty”. “A civic duty and a duty to my country. And I want to give back what my country has given me in terms of training, education and opportunities”, he said.