Cristóvão Norte excluded from PSD lists, Rio's president says that "political confidence has been lost"

Lists by the various constituencies were approved by the National Council, with 67 votes in favour, 21 against and 6 abstentions

Cristóvão Norte, president of the PSD/Algarve and head of the list in recent Legislatives, was excluded from the lists of Social Democrats for the 30 January elections, despite having been chosen, weeks ago, by the District to lead the candidacy. Paulo Rangel's supporter regrets having "lost an opportunity to unite the party", but, on the side of Rui Rio, the argument is that the current president of the PSD "lost confidence" in Cristóvão Norte. 

Évora was the stage yesterday, December 7th, of a hot National Council. On the Social Democrats' agenda was the approval of candidates for deputy by the different constituencies and, as was expected, it actually happened.

Rui Rio made a cleaning, at the national level, excluding several Paulo Rangel supporters (including district leaders) in the recent Direct Elections he ended up winning.

One of the names that came out was Cristóvão Norte, Rangel's regional leader, president of the PSD/Algarve and one of the main figures of the party in the entire district.

In statements to the Sul Informação, just last night, Cristóvão Norte confessed to being "worrying that the national leadership of the PSD has squandered a sovereign opportunity to unite the party."

“My particular circumstance is irrelevant. The choices taken in general are incomprehensible," he added.

The list approved by the National Council – different from the one presented by the District Assembly of Algarve, in which Cristóvão Norte was the first candidate – has Luís Gomes, former deputy, former mayor of Vila Real de Santo António, candidate defeated for this autarchy in the recent elections, as head of the list.

In second comes Rui Cristina, current deputy and supporter of Rio, followed by Ofélia Ramos, also a parliamentarian since 2019. Interestingly, in the last elections, these were also the second and third names on the PSD list.

Lower down, but in an eligible place, is Dinis Faísca (4th) – recently defeated in the race for Câmara de Tavira. Álvaro Viegas, former president of ACRAL – Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region and candidate for the Chamber of Olhão, comes in 5th place.

One of the names that also appeared in the top places of the proposal of the PSD District and that was relegated to the 2nd substitute was Carlos Gouveia Martins.

The leader of the PSD/Portimão, who was beside Rangel, has also reacted and, in a post on Facebook, considered this a "legitimate choice".

However, he also revealed, he has already presented, "in writing, the resignation to fill any place of substitute in the list that the PSD will lead to votes by the electoral constituency of Faro, chosen by Lisbon».

“I respect the choices they make and they are as legitimate as the ones I make. I will always vote for our Social Democratic Party,” he added.

On Rui Rio's side, the argument is that, the sign of unity that Rangel's supporters are complaining about, "was given in the lists two years ago."

Heard by Sul Informação, Francisco Amaral, regional governor of Rio nas Diretas and president of the Chamber of Castro Marim, was authoritative: «you can't join those who don't want to join».

"This was an option of the president of the party, with which I, in general terms, agree", he considered.

Regarding the departure of Cristóvão Norte, Francisco Amaral said that, from his perception, "Rui Rio lost political confidence" in the leader of the PSD/Algarve.

“This was an outcome I was counting on, yes. But this issue of lists happens in all parties and we cannot turn this into a seven-headed animal», he concluded.

However, after a long National Council, in which he participated, Cristóvão Norte has already become fired of the Assembly of the Republic, in a publication on social media.

“It was an extraordinary trip. A privilege to have served my region and my country in Parliament. I leave with the happiness of having done my best, but with the sadness of having so much to do”, he said.

 

Complete list of PSD by Algarve:

1st - Luís Gomes

2- Rui Cristina

3rd – Ophelia Ramos

4th- Dinis Spark

5th- Álvaro Viegas

6th- Helena Palhota Simões

7th- Bruno Sousa Costa

8th- James Matthew

9th- Inês Thames de Barros

Substitutes:

1st – Claudia Sousa

2 - Carlos Gouveia Martins

3rd- Carlos Baía

4th- Maria Paulo Carrusca

5th- Paula Alexandra Xavier

6th- Joaquim Martins Cabrita

7th- Rui Machado de Araújo

8th- Filomena Sintra

 

NOTE: : The list should undergo changes, as Carlos Gouveia Martins has already announced that he does not accept to be part of it.

 

 



Comments

Ads