The president of the Liberal Initiative, Rui Rocha, said that the prime minister, in his Christmas message to the Portuguese, was “just like himself”, advertising himself and the government but forgetting what ails the population.
António Costa, in his message broadcast this evening, didn’t talk about the essentials, such as the issues linked to the housing crisis, low incomes, “a middle class absolutely suffocated by low incomes and high taxes”, the degradation of institutions and the degradation of public services, such as health, education, transport and justice, said Rui Rocha.
“António Costa didn’t say a single word about these points, which are fundamental for the Portuguese. He limited himself to self-praise, which is what he has always done over the last eight years,” Rui Rocha told Lusa when asked what he thought of the Prime Minister’s speech.
The Prime Minister said this evening that he is leaving a better country after eight years of Socialist government leadership, considering that Portugal is prepared to face the challenges of a more qualified population and less debt.
In Rui Rocha’s opinion, it was “a message that closes a chapter”, and now the fundamental thing “is to convey confidence and hope in a different Portugal”.
On the subject of the season, the party leader recalled the family reunions of the young emigrants who came to spend Christmas in Portugal, and reminded the younger ones who are also thinking of emigrating, to say that the Liberal Initiative will bring solutions so that young people can stay in the country and those who have emigrated can return.
He also promised a “different vision” on access to health care, with improved access and people being able to choose whether to go private or public.
In his Christmas wishes, the party president also left a “message of hope and confidence in the future, and in the transformation of Portugal as of March 10” (legislative elections). May the holidays be merry “because we have the opportunity to transform Portugal”, he said.
