Vieira da Silva Slams PS Leadership Timing and Dismisses Seguro for Presidential Race

Mariana Vieira da Silva, a deputy and former minister, has openly criticized the timing of the Socialist Party's (PS) internal elections, suggesting they should have been scheduled after the local elections. Speaking on the Antena 1 podcast Política com Assinatura, she warned that excluding PS from a constitutional revision could jeopardize future state budgets.

On the PS leadership race, Vieira da Silva revealed she chose not to run to avoid internal division, emphasizing the need for unity ahead of the local elections. She argued that electing a new leader before reflecting on the party's future was premature.

Regarding governance, she cautioned against approving state budgets without prior knowledge of their content, stating, "The PS cannot declare itself ready to approve blank budgets." She also criticized President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for implying that budget rejection would automatically lead to government collapse.

On the presidential elections, Vieira da Silva dismissed António José Seguro as the PS's best candidate for Belém, questioning his ability to represent the party credibly. She previously supported António Vitorino's potential candidacy.

Reflecting on the legislative elections, she identified housing and immigration as key unresolved issues but defended Pedro Nuno Santos against blame, criticizing the tendency to scapegoat individuals.

On Chega's rise, she attributed their success to protest votes rather than policy, admitting PS failed to present itself as a viable alternative. She denied PS's role in bringing PSD and Chega closer, arguing PS supported several government measures and that António Costa had curbed Chega's growth. She warned that AD could be Chega's next target.