Montenegro? “If you are elected to do different from Costa, I hope you do”

A president of the Liberal Initiative, Mariana Leitão, criticized the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, comparing him with his predecessor, António Costa, and saying that “in terms of managing the country, it is not doing much differently”. 

In an interview with TSF and News Newspaper (JN), Mariana Leitão addressed several issues of today, having also left criticisms to the head of the government, Luís Montenegro. 

“ We are critical when we feel that the decisions that are being made are wrong or do not solve people's problems or are more of the same as the ones that were criticised earlier. We must not forget that Luís Montenegro, in terms of management of the country, is not doing much different from what António Costa did“, he said. 

The leader of the Liberal Initiative pointed out that, at the time the current Prime Minister was part of the opposition, she criticized “widely, and in all forums, the action of António Costa”. 

“ I think we have to be consistent. If he is elected to do different from António Costa, my expectation is that he will do different from António Costa. From the moment he does no different from António Costa, he has failed”, pointed out, adding that “it is seen” and that “he spoke in the promises he made and did not keep”. 

Mariana Leitão also accused the chief executive of not being prepared to respond to crises, noting that “the government has no solutions”. “ We obviously don't control what's going on around us. Louis Montenegro does not control what is happening in the rest of the world. But there is one thing we know: we cannot be unprepared for anything.”, stressed. 

“Sound” of Cotrim de Figueiredo or Rui Rocha?

Mariana Leitão, remember, has been in charge of the Liberal Initiative for about a year and stated in this interview to TSF and JN that she intends to re-apply to the party's leadership. 

Asked about who feels the most pressured in the leadership of the IL, if by João Cotrim de Figueiredo or Rui Rocha, Mariana Leitão replied that “in rigor, by neither”. 

“ All former presidents of the Liberal Initiative are people who add up, who help and who are very important, have been very important and remain very important. We all work for this common project”he did. 

As for feeling the shadow of Cotrim or Rocha, the leader of IL pointed out: “I feel no shadow of anyone.”

Asked about a possible candidacy of Cotrim de Figueiredo to the Liberal Initiative when there are new internal elections, and if it would abandon the leadership, Mariana Leitão replied “never”. “He who comes against me,” he joked.

“I don’t let myself be conditioned by these things. I am doing a hard job, I will continue to do it, it is my mission ", stressed, ensuring that it will be “applicant at the next congress”.