Portugal, ambition and hope
It is the title of the Global Strategy Motion presented by Paulo Rangel in his candidacy for the party. Anyone who knows me or who has read me knows how much I identify with these designs and how much I have fought for them, these more than 20 years in political positions.
We live in a Portugal in which talking about ambition is banned. This word, this feeling, took on an almost negative meaning, as if wanting more was something we should be ashamed of and even avoid.
This lack of ambition is reflected in an absence of hope, in a generalized conformism, in which it is only expected that one day will come after another. An unhappy portrait of Portugal, a sad fado, in which the sorrow and the absence of a future is sung and drowned in a “three cup”, or in a more contemporary gin and tonic.
Portugal is today a poor and resigned country, the fault of a socialist government that for six years lulled the country to sleep, but which, like a curse, also robbed it of the ability to dream.
Paulo Rangel, with this title, clearly demarcates himself from the current PSD. It wants more, aims for more, has hope and intends to lead this political and economic transformation, which is also one of self-esteem. A transformation of the PSD, but mainly of the country.
“Unite, grow and win” was the slogan of his internal campaign, a message to all PSD militants, but which could be the new mantra for the Portuguese. Unite in ambition and hope. Grow economically. Win as a country.
This transformation, which we all know is necessary, has a central point: it can only be led by those who believe in it, by those who want it, never by those who want everything as it is, inert. Never by António Costa, who just wants to keep his place. Or for Rui Rio, who has long since resigned, leaving him also to dream and to be an alternative.
I am convinced that the country needs and wants change, and timidly begins to strive for it. This change inevitably involves the PSD and the election of Paulo Rangel, this Saturday.
* PSD Engineer and Mayor
