Bruno Ribeiro, 41 years old, born in Tavira, but residing in Loulé, furniture assembler and newcomer to politics, is the head of the list of the also debuting party Volt Portugal to the 30 January Legislative Elections, for the circle of Algarve.
With this interview, the series of interviews that the Sul Informação is publishing, with all the heads of the list of all the political forces that are candidates for the constituency of the district of Faro.
To all, and in a logic of equal opportunities, the same questionnaire with 12 questions was sent, in a timely manner.
The answers are, of course, diverse, as will become clear over the next few days, with the publication of all the interviews.
Sul Informação – What are the priorities of your political force for the next legislature for the Algarve?
Bruno Ribeiro – Calling for the improvement of public transport, taking urgent measures to minimize the effects of the drought, promoting quick access to a quality health service and the right to housing, so that people from the Algarve can live where they were born, so as not to the same thing happening today in Lisbon.
SI – What led you to accept being the head of the list for the party or political force you represent?
BR – I am an ordinary citizen, like so many others, I have my life, I get up, I go to work and I return home at the end of the day.
The lack of vision of our rulers and having watched this ping-pong for so many years, now I govern, now you govern, without anything substantial changing, was, without a doubt, the main reason.
SI – What are the expectations and objectives of your political force in relation to these Legislative Elections?
BR – As a new party, we want to make ourselves known to the general public. Communicating our message, which we believe will align with part of the electorate. We would like to elect one or two deputies.
SI – What remains to be done in the Algarve?
BR – Improve public transport, facilitate access to healthcare, take measures to minimize the issue of drought, make the right to housing a priority, so much else could go on…
SI – Health is a deficit sector in the Algarve and in the country. What measures do you recommend to solve the health problems in the Algarve?
BR – Increase investment in infrastructure, create conditions for the establishment of new health professionals in the region and value the ones we already have, who do a lot with the little they give them.
SI – And what about Hospital Central do Algarve? When should you move forward and why?
BR – I don't think it's the best option. I believe that the region would be much better served with smaller hospital units. The Hospital of Faro and the Portimão Hospital would have to be reorganized, it would be necessary to invest in infrastructure, without a doubt, but I think that a hospital unit in Sotavento is needed, it would help to relieve the Hospital of Faro and it would be much better and much closer to the populations.
SI – The previous government advanced with the Decentralization of Competences to the Municipalities. What balance do you make of this process?
BR – Honestly, any process that serves to decentralize and bring public services closer to the populations is beneficial and welcome, but, in the end, nothing has changed. Everything continues to be done as before, without innovation, without progress and without vision.
SI – Should a future government move forward with Regionalization? Why or why not?
BR – Without a doubt! It is worth remembering that Regionalization is provided for in our Constitution.
It would have obvious benefits for the regions, and one thing that is very present in the Algarve is the lack of structural investment on the part of successive governments, regardless of political color.
The Algarve, as an autonomous region, would have more and better public investment, more adjusted to the reality of the populations, there would be greater proximity between the citizen and the government, greater political accountability and it would be easier to take measures that favor prosperity and economic development, adjusted to our reality.
SI – In the Assembly of the Republic, there have been resolutions to end tolls on Via do Infante or, at least, to introduce significant discounts. What do you think about this topic and what solutions do you recommend?
BR – I believe in the user-pays principle, but I also believe that there must be alternatives.
Most Algarve citizens travel using the EN125, essentially an urban road, whose redevelopment is long overdue, and public transport is out of touch with reality and needs investment.
The Via do Infante itself needs serious attention in some sections.
Until these issues are resolved, I think the tolls should be lifted.
SI – At the beginning of the current pandemic crisis, the Government announced a specific plan for the Algarve, which never came to fruition. What does Algarve Tourism need to recover from the pandemic?
BR – For a region that lives so much from tourism, it was catastrophic. The measures of the central government were very out of step with the Algarve reality.
It takes autonomy to adapt measures to the needs of the region, it is necessary to support the hospitality industry that employs so many Algarve people and it is necessary to promote the Algarve as a safe destination abroad, now, more than ever.
SI – In the case of more fractious issues, such as regionalization, tolls on Via do Infante and health, among others, if you are elected, will you vote for the AR according to your conviction, even if it goes against the guidelines of your party?
BR – In this case, the question doesn't even arise, my convictions align perfectly with the party's guidelines.
SI – Do you want to add any more topics or questions?
BR – I would like to appeal to the Algarve, emphasizing that, on the 30th, it is important to go to vote.
I know that many people from the Algarve are dissatisfied and have lost faith in politics. As a citizen, I found myself in the same situation.
A lot of talk, a lot of promises and, in the end, nothing or little comes true.
This needs to change, all of us, as individual citizens, have the power to choose what is done in this country. Not going to vote is leaving that choice to others.
We citizens can change Portugal and the Algarve, but for that we need to reflect on the choices made in the past and think about the future. The future is in everyone's hands.
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