Estoril, Portugal, July 22, 2025 (Lusa) - Presidential candidate Gouveia e Melo stated on Tuesday that he has been attempting to convince the “media bubble” that he fully respects democracy, adding that he will take a stronger stance starting in September.
Henrique Gouveia e Melo was speaking to journalists after participating in a conference called “Estoril talks”, in which he also emphasised the limited impact of the possible entry into the presidential race of the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and the MEP for the Liberal Initiative, Cotrim Figueiredo.
In the same vein, the former Chief of Staff of the Navy highlighted the limited significance of recent polls, which now indicate a greater balance between his candidacy and those of the former leaders of the PSD and PS, Marques Mendes and António José Seguro, respectively.
Journalists asked the presidential candidate about the political controversy surrounding the revision of the citizenship curriculum, and he offered general comments, saying that his main objective is to have “quality education”; he also noted that “there are more important issues such as housing, health, immigration and defence”.
Henrique Gouveia e Melo was more incisive in the final part of his participation in the conference, when he answered questions from the guests. At that point, he confided that his concern so far has been to “convince the media bubble”, seeking to emphasise that his candidacy affirms democracy.
He immediately promised a new phase starting in September, when he said he would begin to take positions on more concrete political issues.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, he repeated his criticism of the “media bubble” and confirmed that his second phase of intervention would begin in September.
He said that, in a way, he is “a foreign body to what was normal in terms of presidential candidates, in terms of the political party system.”
“Naturally, the media bubble and the system react against this foreign body, but I have to get used to it because it is part of life. That’s what I do, get used to that reaction, which is sometimes a bit corporate,” he argued.
Journalists asked whether his status as a presidential candidate who relies on grassroots organisation and independent support rather than a party machine or the backing of major parties is an advantage or a disadvantage in the race for Belém, and Gouveia e Melo gave a telegraphic answer: “The Portuguese will say in January 2026.”
However, in his answers to the guests at the conference, he levelled several criticisms at the political class, choosing not to specify any parties, saying, among other things, that some seek to “infantilise” the Portuguese people, which is an “anti-democratic” attitude.
On the issue of revising the rules on entry and residence for foreigners in Portugal, the admiral also issued a warning in the form of a question: “Should we stay open to the world and pursue greater economic development?”
‘Immigration, health and housing are the issues that will mark the next five years,’ added the presidential candidate, who promised to "do everything to boost the morale of the Portuguese people".
In this context, Gouveia e Melo set as his central goal, if elected head of state, to “use the judiciary’s influence” with other sovereign bodies to “define collective objectives” of national interest.
Even before the end of the conference, one of those present at the lunch confronted the admiral with his controversial statement that he preferred the risk of a rope around his neck to becoming a presidential candidate. Gouveia e Melo, in his response, argued that his reaction must be viewed in the context of the time and the country's situation.
“Had I acknowledged anything at the time, I would have condemned the entire vaccination process,” he claimed.
PMF/ADB // ADB.
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