Marques Mendes Dismisses Gouveia e Melo's Potential Candidacy Impact on His Own Presidential Aspirations

No Influence from Gouveia e Melo

Luís Marques Mendes, the former leader of the PSD, has stated that the potential candidacy of Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo will not affect his decision regarding a run for the Presidency of Portugal. In his commentary on SIC, Mendes emphasized that he does not feel dependent on the decisions of others when considering his own candidacy for Belém.

Clarity on His Stance

When questioned about recent news regarding Gouveia e Melo, who has reportedly declined to be reappointed as Chief of the Navy and is contemplating a presidential bid, Mendes expressed that these developments come as no surprise to him. He remarked, "I believe the reports are accurate; it has been evident for months that a candidacy is imminent."

Personal Considerations for Candidacy

Mendes clarified that Gouveia e Melo's potential candidacy does not condition his own plans. He reiterated that since the summer, he has been clear about his requirements for running: assessing whether he has the political conditions necessary and if he can provide benefit to the country.

Decision Timeline

He confirmed that he will announce his decision next year and noted that it would be unusual for the CDS to support a candidate outside the PSD, such as Gouveia e Melo, given their coalition governance. However, he acknowledged that it is possible since they are different parties.

In August, Mendes indicated he was closer than ever to making a decision regarding his candidacy. During the PSD congress in October, party leader Luís Montenegro included a commitment to support a PSD candidate, with Mendes being a strong contender for the desired profile.