Three million, four hundred and eighty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-one Portuguese men and women cast their votes for António José Seguro. In each of them there is associated an expectation, a problem, an anxiety, a desire, a hope, a dream, an objective to be achieved and in need of support. So, President-elect, how will you respond to the trust that two thirds of Portuguese people have given you? In the logic of the demand you promised, maintaining stability and institutional cooperation with the Government, what will you do and how will you do it, if the results do not emerge?
We don’t want to be pessimistic, do we? But, with your conscience in mind, do you really think that this Government is in the operational conditions to respond and act with dexterity and with positive results? Montenegro seems asleep!
I now remember the trains and CP, this public company-national cancer that has been gnawing at our State Budget for decades. You were still minding your private life when Pedro Nuno Santos decided to buy, in November 2023, 117 Spanish trains. And so much so that we need them! But the purchase was made in such a way and so absurd that everything ended up in court between the companies Stadler and the Spanish company CAF. An operation (?) that made us lose 191 million euros of European aid that was non-refundable. The trains were supposed to arrive by 2030, but now who knows!
Well, time passes. One of these days for the rain which, by now, will have already caused a hole in our GDP (around 0.5%, they say) and after the spring, which we are looking forward to, comes summer and with it the fires. How will you be elected President? Are we going to have planes in the air, which cost us tons of money per hour, or are we going to do prevention? Is it so difficult to prevent? It’s all in the books! Clear the forests, create containment strips around towns, cities and infrastructure, increase pasture and agricultural areas, set up surveillance towers, cameras and sensors that detect fire, plant more cork oaks, oaks and holm oaks, cutting down eucalyptus and giving a kick to the cellulose lobby and, of course, restructure the entire fire fighting system with the creation of a single command.
Then, President-elect, there are young people. They are the future of the country, aren’t they? Between 2012 and 2021, 194 thousand young graduates emigrated and 40% of those who finish college today only think about going abroad. We lost the best we have, didn’t we? And the teachers? Where are we going to get 20,000 new teachers by 2030 to replace those who are going to retire?
O President-elect, talk to Monenegro, as I have an idea that he is not doing well! The man looks lost! Who knows, maybe a government reshuffle would help. After the dismissal in Internal Administration, perhaps new blood in Health, Work, Justice and Administrative Modernization would cheer up the crowd!.
One thing is certain. The three million, four hundred and eighty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-one Portuguese men and women who voted for you will want to demand that vote. There is no such thing as a free lunch, President-elect. If everything remains the same, a considerable part of the responsibility will be yours. And Chega lá will be lurking, as always, like a bird of prey, taking advantage of the remains and, with them, growing.
Journalist
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