Livre's Bold Challenge: Who Is Luís Really Working For? Insights from Their Recent Congress

During the last two days at its XV Congress, the Livre party discussed and refined its electoral program, which was approved with 285 votes in favor, seven against, and 13 abstentions. They challenged Luís Montenegro to clarify for whom he is actually working, criticized the Prime Minister, waved their electoral flags, and took shots at both Iniciativa Liberal and Chega. Rui Tavares, co-spokesperson for the party, noted, "One cannot be free alone; freedom comes in teamwork."

The first day focused on voting on proposals for the May 18 elections and included speeches praising parliamentary leader Isabel Mendes Lopes for her performance in her first televised debate against the leader of CDS-PP, who was substituting for Montenegro. Party members remarked, "A Defense Minister losing on defense is quite a feat."

As the congress concluded, attacks were directed at the Prime Minister, with Tavares holding him accountable for the early elections. He stated, "Livre did not propose either the motion of censure or confidence. However, news continued to emerge."

Tavares expressed concern about a potential alliance between AD and IL, or the combination of Montenegro's and Chega's ideologies, urging voters not to allow Chega to grow. He accused Montenegro of showing the worst possible traits when faced with negative news, referencing the Prime Minister's recent complaints about media coverage. Tavares warned, "We’ve seen this film before, and it doesn’t end well," suggesting that if it isn’t a scheme, it should look less like one.

"We Need to Know Who Luís Works For"

For Livre, the majority of the country does not consider the Spinumviva issue normal, and they aim to be the voice for those who believe it isn’t. Tavares insisted, "There must be no doubt; we need to know for whom Luís works. We cannot pretend we haven’t seen anything."

Responding to the PS's calls for strategic voting without naming them, Tavares expressed a desire for more leftist representation in parliament, emphasizing the need to regain votes that have shifted elsewhere but are not lost. He humorously noted that he doesn’t mind if others "steal ideas from Livre" as long as they are beneficial.

Confident in the potential to increase parliamentary representation, Tavares highlighted some party proposals, including the 15-minute city and family-friendly neighborhoods, suggesting utilizing empty barracks for teleworking spaces for those lacking suitable home conditions. Additionally, the parliamentary leader emphasized the fight against domestic violence as a party priority, stating, "Women will never be free while living in fear."