“True motion of censure was the reappearance of Steps: Make a dent”

O mEPs João Cotrim de Figueiredo said this Sunday that “a turning point” is currently being lived, calling for political leaders to “turn the page”, with eyes on the future. As for the ‘test’ made to the Government this weekhe said: “ The real motion of censure that took place this week in Portugal was the reappearance of [Peter] Passos Coelho”.

“There is a turning point in national politics because Tuesday we learned – if there were any doubts – that this government will not reform. Because, in the face of a motion of censure that he won loosely, without any problem, instead of saying what he was going to do for the rest of the legislature and dealing with what are the fundamental, structural problems, reforming the country – no”, he pointed out in the “Visto So”, his weekly comment space issued in SIC News.

And then the former president of the Liberal Initiative (IL), said: “It decided to have an electoral attitude. Download the IRS once again in the middle of the year, which is one thing only this Government of Montenegro does.”.

“There is absolutely no need to do so and make another bonus for pensioners. And the rest of the time of the motion of censure was trying to defend the minister [of the Internal Administration], which is indefensible”, he added.

“ The real motion of censure that took place this week in Portugal was the reappearance of Passos Coelho, because this one makes a dent and forces the Prime Minister to react and say things – that are not lamenting, that there is no sadness”, cast.

The liberal referred to the suggestions for reforms and warning left by the former Prime Minister to the current head of government. In cause is an article of the Express in which it is realized that the study on the blockades of the economy coordinated by Passos will come to the hands of the Government – and the President of the Republic, António José Seguro – by the end of the year.

Among other considerations regarding the urgency of reforms for the country, Passos Coelho advises Luís Montenegro not to waste time afraid of “hypothecating support”. Steps also make considerations about these matters in the preface of Pedro Gomes Sanches’ new book, “Portugal in the Peace of Blocks”, and states that time, “which has been stretched due to the electoral fragility of governments and their scarce parliamentary support, is running out.

And speaking of a “turnpoint” nowadays, Cotrim de Figuiredo justified this same classification: “Coelho Passes had already made successive, evidently planned appearances in March and April. And now it comes back in September – and it comes back with an announcement of something I never heard”.

“ I am about to see what is there – and with positive expectation. But, announce it with ten weeks of [anticipation]...”, he said, also highlighting that the coordination of the study happens in partnership with the socialist Sérgio Sousa Pinto and the president of the Commercial Association of Porto, Nuno Botelho.

“ We will be about two and a half months waiting for the document”, he stressed, adding: “If Rabbit Steps comes back now, for some reason it is. It should no longer be by the same conditions of March and April. So something must be changing in the political calendars of Rabbit Steps itself. And maybe the country [...]. This reappearance gives me the idea that you don't have to call him anymore. He is calling himself”.

As for the Minister of Internal Administration, Cotrim de Figueredo again stressed that Luís Neves should no longer be in office, since he has already committed some “political sins”.