After the elections for the PS/Portimão Political Committee, which are being disputed on Friday, June 1st, "it is absolutely desirable that normality is installed in the life of the Party", considers Manuel da Luz, in a letter sent to the two candidates , Luis Carito e Joaquim Castelao Rodrigues.
In the letter that the Sul Informação had access, and which Manuel da Luz says is "a letter of hope", the mayor of Portimão and himself a former president of that municipality underlines that "other much more important battles are on the way, where opponents are outside the PS . Win whoever wins, after the election there can be no place for revanchism, bottles of champagne, demonstrations of victory that leave a wound in the Party's unity because we are all going to be needed for the next fights».
Manuel da Luz, who invokes his condition as mayor elected by the Socialist Party for over 18 years, claims to have “a very clear notion about the importance of the PS council in a municipality like Portimão, where we have been in power since there are democratic elections ».
For, he stresses, "this is an important election with future consequences for the PS, in general, and particularly in our municipality."
Because he has "esteem and consideration for all the candidates who come to the vote", Manuel da Luz says he "felt" to write "this letter, because it's not every day that two militants", with the "political experience and profile" of both candidates, "resolve to run for a base structure of our party."
“And in what context? In a context of evident national difficulties and, also, at a time when Portuguese political parties – and ours is no exception – need to renew and open up to society, which today is much more complex and diversified than at the time of the its constitution”, he adds.
"There are unavoidable questions and desires to improve the quality of our democracy, which will not be done without a strong party renewal, without new ways of doing politics."
Manuel da Luz brings to the discussion of PS militants in Portimão five “reflections”, which reflect their concerns regarding what is at stake in these elections for the socialist CPC.
And they are:
“How – and it's an ever-present question! – give vitality to the party in the search for better mechanisms for participation and openness to the surrounding society?”
"How to give effective and up-to-date substance to a Municipal Political Commission, where the ability to listen and respect the bases, the ability to organize and manage for the objectives of the local PS, the ability to manage a permanent climate of dialogue, respecting competences is fundamental. , between the Party and local authorities?”
"Isn't the time for voting a time of personal responsibility, where friendships and complicity do not count, but the conscience of each militant in evaluating what is at stake?"
«Isn't it true that voting is free? Is it not true that the PS has always been and is a Party that respects the freedom of voting without any constraint or pressure from anyone?”
"Isn't it true that there isn't, and never has been, fear in Portimão, and that's why this theme doesn't make sense in the act of voting?"
And Manuel da Luz ends by stating that “all these issues – and many others, of course – concern me and I know that any of you will not tire, in the context of your candidacy, in trying to find solutions and the best way forward”.
In Portimão, Manuel da Luz, current mayor elected by the PS, will not be able to re-run again, due to having reached the maximum term limit.
Therefore, the current elections for the Municipal Political Commission are seen as a kind of “primary” for the choice of the future socialist candidate for the autarchy that this party has governs since there are Municipal Elections.
However, regardless of who wins the elections on the 1st – Joaquim Castelão Rodrigues or Luís Carito -, if a list has 1/3 of the Political Commission, it can propose a candidate for president, who will be chosen through direct elections among the militants of the PS. Given the extreme situation that has been created in recent months, it is likely that confusion will continue in the Socialist Council after Friday's elections. Hence the greater relevance of the letter sent by Manuel da Luz to the two candidates.
As elections for PS Council Political Commissions take place in the Algarve and the country on the 1st and 2nd of June.
Here is the content of the letter, in full:
«I confess that I have followed, from a distance, the campaign for the elections to the Municipality of Portimão, through the reading of several documents that, as an active militant and with up-to-date quotas, have been sent to me.
On the form, events, happenings, social media of this campaign – allow me to refrain from commenting.
As you know, I was already president of the Municipality of the PS of Portimão, I am a mayor elected by the Socialist Party for over 18 years; I have, therefore, a very clear notion about the importance of the PS council in a municipality like Portimão, where we have been in power since there are democratic elections.
This is an important election with future consequences for the PS, in general, and particularly in our municipality.
And it is true that I have esteem and consideration for all candidates who come forward for votes. That is why I felt like writing this letter because it is not every day that 2 militants, with your political experience and profile, decide to apply for a base structure of our party.
And in what context? In a framework of obvious national difficulties and also at a time when Portuguese political parties – and ours is no exception – need to renew and open up to society, which today is much more complex and diversified than at the time of the its constitution.
There are unavoidable questions and desires to improve the quality of our democracy, which will not be done without a strong party renewal, without new ways of doing politics.
Having said all this, and after the necessary time for a good reflection without distracting from the essential, I would like to appeal to the PS militants in Portimão to consider some reflections that I propose here in an interrogative form:
How – and it is an ever-present question! – give vitality to the party in the search for better mechanisms for participation and openness to the surrounding society?
How to give effective and up-to-date substance to a Municipal Political Commission, where the ability to listen and respect the bases, the ability to organize and manage for the objectives of the local PS, the ability to manage a permanent climate of dialogue, respecting competences, is essential, between the Party and local authorities?
Isn't the time for voting a time of personal responsibility, where friendships and complicity do not count, but the conscience of each militant in evaluating what is at stake?
Isn't it true that voting is free? Isn't it true that the PS has always been and is a Party that respects the freedom of voting without any constraint or pressure from anyone?
Isn't it true that there isn't, and never has been, fear in Portimão, and that's why this theme doesn't make sense in the act of voting?
All these questions – and many others, of course – concern me and I know that any one of you will not tire, as part of your candidacy, in trying to find solutions for you and the best way forward.
It is for all this that I wish you all the best for the election on June 1st.
But that is why this is also a letter of hope!
Comrade Carito and Comrade Castelão,
After this electoral act, it is absolutely desirable that normality be installed in the life of the Party. Other, much more important matches are ahead, where the opponents are outside the PS. Win whoever wins, after the election there can be no place for revanchism, bottles of champagne, demonstrations of victory that leave wounds in the UNITY of the Party, because we are all going to be needed for the next fights.
I have left in writing the reasons why I decided to write you this letter which you can put to whatever use you see fit.
Socialist greetings from
Manuel da Luz
Portimão, May 28, 2012»
Comments