Lisbon, March 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party on Monday expressed his full agreement with the content of the inaugural speech by the country's new president and stressed that the absence of political commitments so far was not due to the unavailability of the socialists.

This position was conveyed by José Luís Carneiro in parliament, in an initial reaction to the speech given by António José Seguro after taking office as head of state.

Asked about António José Seguro's call for political stability and consensus, the Socialist Party (PS) leader stated: "Since July last year, the PS has presented a wide range of proposals that are precisely in line with the concerns of the president."

"You will recognise that if there has been no agreement in several areas so far, this is not due to a lack of willingness or concrete contributions on the part of the PS leadership," he maintained.

According to José Luís Carneiro, "the PS has always engaged in constructive dialogue in the interests of the country" and the approach presented by the new president represents a framework that has much in common.

Speaking to journalists, he argued that the president and the PS share the same position in advocating "political stability that corresponds to options that serve fundamental basic needs", particularly in terms of the functions of sovereignty, an effective state in terms of internal order and based on international law and the United Nations Charter.

"We need a state that puts political commitments at the service of policies: responses in health, housing, wages and living conditions, particularly for the younger generations. These have been the political priorities since I took office as leader of the PS," he argued.

Regarding António José Seguro's speech, the leader of the PS first highlighted the objective of defending the international order, the United Nations Charter, international law and multilateralism.

He then sought to emphasise the importance of contributing "to meeting the fundamental needs of the country".

"On the one hand, the needs that have to do with an economy that grows and guarantees better living conditions, particularly in terms of wages and also housing, and the commitment to health - one of the commitments we have always presented to the Government, along with others that have to do with the functions of sovereignty," he said.

José Luís Carneiro then specified that the PS had presented proposals to the Government on the functions of sovereignty in defence, security, foreign policy and justice reform.

"In addition to a reform of the national health service capable of guaranteeing its fundamental purposes. We cannot fail to express our agreement with the approach of building a more cohesive country from a territorial and social point of view," he said, alluding to another part of the Head of State's speech.

Therefore, for José Luís Carneiro, the messages from the country's president "have the full support of the PS, because they represent a vision of a country that has ambition".

When asked about the importance that the president attached to the point regarding political stability, the PS leader replied: "We are defenders of political stability".

"But, as has also been stated, stability must correspond to policies that respond to people's needs in terms of housing, wages, family income, health and the State's response to the most demanding circumstances, such as those we experienced a few days ago in the country. Therefore, we will always be on the side of stability, but that stability must correspond to the objectives of national development," he added.

José Luís Carneiro also agreed with António José Seguro's intention not to dissolve parliament if the state budget bill is rejected: "The state budget is not the be-all and end-all of a country's life".

"It is an important instrument of national policy, but it is not the be-all and end-all of the country's development policies, but rather one of the instruments," he added.

José Luís Carneiro also left "a word of gratitude" to former president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

"We have always had a constructive dialogue in the interests of the country," stressed the PS leader.

PMF/AYLS // AYLS

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