António Eusébio will be the only candidate for the post of president of the PS Federation in the Algarve. The consensus for the re-candidacy of the current leader of the socialist regional structure was reached after an internal dialogue and takes place in favor of “internal stability” and a focus “on the struggles that lie ahead”.
"We reached an agreement that we need stability, to have more time to dedicate to matters outside the party", illustrated António Eusébio, speaking to the Sul Informação. "Our priorities, at the moment, are the 2017 Local Elections and the fulfillment of the electoral promises made by the PS to the Algarve", he added.
The «main electoral flags of the PS in the Algarve» are part of the re-candidacy motion of the president of the Federation for the elections that will take place in March, presented this Monday, in the auditorium of the Municipal Library of Faro.
“Our struggles will involve improving the National Health Service in the region, which has been degrading strongly over the past four years. We want improvements in hospitals and primary care. The requalification of the EN125, the creation of jobs and the reduction in the value of tolls are also part of the programme”, he summed up.
In the latter case, the deputy also elected by the Algarve reveals that the Algarve's socialist parliamentarians have "insisted with the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructure" to apply a reduction in fees charged on the A22. “We have been told that the matter is under study. If we manage to make the reduction happen this year, it will be a great help for the Algarve», he considered.
Already won, is the fight for advancement of railway electrification, «a decisive work for the Algarve whose progress, fortunately, minister Pedro Marques has already announced».
An important signal given by the executive led by António Costa, since consistency between what was promised and what is actually fulfilled is important for the leader of the Algarve Socialist Federation.
“We understand that the Government is not able to implement everything in the first few months of exercising its functions. But the credibility of the policy and the exercise of functions depend on our ability to honor our word», he considered, in his speech introducing the candidacy program.
António Eusébio presented proposals, but is open to contributions "from all who want to give them, not just militants", in order to complete the motion "Algarve com Rumo", which will be presented at the Regional Congress of the PS, scheduled for 19 March "I will promote, until election day, 4 or 5 March, sessions in the councils, open to militants and sympathizers," he said.
This opening to the outside was preceded by a process of internal approximation. “We had two years in which there was an internal dispute in the party. It was time to put an end to it», summarized António Eusébio.
A view shared by the mayor of Olhão António Pina, who a few months ago admitted to being a candidate for the presidency of the Federation. The socialist mayor told the Sul Informação that it will not proceed with a candidacy, in the name of the "internal union of the party". “We talked and came to the conclusion that it is much more that unites us than our differences. This is the best way to ensure that there is the necessary stability,” he said.
The differences seem to be resolved, taking into account the number of people present at the presentation of António Eusébio's electoral program. «It was something that impressed me: we had the auditorium full, even the corridors, and there were even people who stayed in the Library Gallery», he said, without hiding his satisfaction.
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