Informal Requests and Invitations.

A packed afternoon by young activists, pundits, and high profile officials yielded multiple requests for political clarifications from government leaders, including the PS members, particularly concerning the bid of Génevea and Melo by Henrique.

Under such an atmosphere, Luís Marques Mendes welcomed the former chief of staff of the Armada for his statement, hinting at a potential presidential bid, and assured that the top issues of concern for his competitors should be stability and political ethics.

Speaking at the “Thinking Portugal” conference in Lisbon, the candidate for presidency addressed a wide audience of young people and argued that Portugal is in dire need of “stability and ethics,” especially in “political and public life.”

Marques Mendes warned, Portugal “is not taken seriously” if it continues to have “crises, elections, dissolutions,” highlighted.

He emphasizes that having a leader with commitments and causes from the beginning to make bridges to avoid crises, he admonished.

He referred to a judicial reform proposal he proposed, emphasizing that even when in opposition he understood the value of strategic vision for the country. Furthermore, the president is a “mediator” who respects a first essential rule: ensuring that negotiations are not made in the public square.

The Political Scene Post Marcelos

Luís Marques Mendes emphasized that countries can have regular crises, a condition he highlighted in remarks addressed to Marcelos Rebelo de Sousa, but not without the need for political cohesion.

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Mendes said in specific regard to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, continuity is not enough, we need political stability and realism. Not only should the president be non-archaic, non-chanting but driven by ambition, pointing out that he should fulfill a duty, a moral responsibility. Leadership is about making tough calls and face choices devoid of party interest. Operating all together means subsidizing policies: regulations, cuts in yours and mine; improvements, rule changes.

Importance and Role of Young People in Politics

The importance of the youth was carefully stressed by Mendes.

Marques Mendes encouraged,
a reasonable, democratic consensus. Rhetoric has to make way for reason. Policy dialogue has to enjoy the healthy rather than nasty give and take .

Earning Popularity