The head of the PAN list for the European Parliament elections dived this Friday into the Tagus River, similar to what Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa did 35 years ago, to prove that the water in that area remains polluted.
The campaign action, which took place on Algés beach, in Oeiras, aimed to show voters that they will vote on Sunday to elect the European Parliament that the PAN “is the only party that will make a difference” in defense of the environment and which constitutes “a responsible vote for nature and animals”, stated Pedro Fidalgo Marques.
The water “was polluted. Very polluted and cold”, said the candidate after diving, remembering that, “35 years ago, there was a promise from Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa that four years later the water would stop be polluted”, but “we continue to have polluted water”.
The now President of the Republic’s plunge was taken as a candidate for the presidency of the Lisbon City Council. At the time, in August 1989, the then mayoral candidate criticized the quality of the river’s water and, despite not having won the election, he achieved great notoriety.
This was not, according to Pedro Fidalgo Marques, the main objective of today’s PAN action. “It’s more than that [ganhar notoriedade]is an action to draw attention to the importance of rivers”, he highlighted, still out of breath, after swimming about 30 meters to the coast.
“We have shown that it is necessary to have a protection statute for our rivers”, he said, reiterating that “Voting for the PS/PSD center is useless“, because “we continue with the promises, [nomeadamente a do social-democrata Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa de que iria despoluir o rio] to be fulfilled.”
A possible protest vote for Chega was also criticized by the PAN leader, guaranteeing that the far-right party “promises, promises and does nothing”. “The only vote that will make the alternative and will make a difference is the vote for PAN”, he assured.
ANTONIO PEDRO SANTOS/ Lusa
The comparison between the two candidates — 35 years apart in time — also served for journalists to remind Pedro Fidalgo Marques that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa lost the elections the year he dove into the Tagus, questioning the PAN leader about the eventuality of facing a bad omen.
“Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa became President of the Republic. Therefore, I don’t think it can be said to be a bad omen”, said Pedro Fidalgo Marques, adding that what he would like was for Marcelo Rebelo Sousa, as President of Republic, defend what the Constitution says”.
“Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa swore to comply with and enforce the Constitution and the right to the environment and nature remains unfulfilled”, he accused.
In Portugal, the European elections take place on June 9th and will be contested by 17 parties and coalitions: AD, PS, Chega, IL, BE, CDU, Livre, PAN, ADN, MAS, Ergue- te, Nova Direita, Volt Portugal, RIR, Nós Cidadões, MPT and PTP. 21 deputies will be elected.
