"In the AD, we stake on changes and revisions"
Rebel Yell: Pedro Reis Slams Opposition in Castelo Branco Rally
Pedro Reis, head of the AD list – PSD/CDS coalition in Castelo Branco, pulled no punches during a rousing speech at Beira Baixa's cineteatro, taking aim at the opposition, predominantly the Socialists, without ever explicitly naming them.
In his fiery address before Luís Montenegro, the social-democrat leader, Reis highlighted a stark contrast between the action of the current PSD/CDS executive and the alleged chaos wrought by the opposition. "We’re about clarity, reform, positivity, and results. They rage with confusion, instability, and uncertainty," he declared.[1]
Criticizing the opposition, Reis accused them of seeking to tax everything that moves, from families to companies and investments. "They want to take and take without creating," he argued.[1]
He further condemned the opposition's approach to state power, claiming they perceive it as a "perch, an employment center, and a tax sucker."[1] This allegation implies that the opposition values state power for personal gain rather than effective governance.
The left's interventionist stance in sectors like health, housing, and the economy also received harsh criticism. Reis pointed out that the opposition wants to limit what they can't free and intervene in what they don't want to leave unchecked.[1]
Reis accused them of being power-hungry opportunists, seeking power for power's sake and lacking a long-term vision.[1] In contrast, he and the AD coalition, under Luís Montenegro's leadership, advocate for a freer society, a more robust economy, a stronger middle class, a more knowledgeable public administration, and support for social mobility.[1]
Manuel Frexes, the District leader of PSD in Castelo Branco, spoke earlier in the rally. He believed the work of the current government had been "unfairly halted" by the opposition.[2] Now, he insisted, "We must carry it forward from May 18."
Frexes praised Montenegro's leadership as strong but controlled.[2] "They attacked his conduct, but Montenegro has proven he's serious and puts the people first," Frexes declared.
Frexes didn't mention specific political factions but argued, "The alternative isn't created by shouting but based on solutions where the state serves the people, rewards the hardworking, and prioritizes the interior."[2]
In the last legislative elections in 2024, AD managed to elect only one deputy in Castelo Branco, with 28.45% of the votes, against two from the PS, which won with 34.22% of the votes, and one from Chega (19.52%).[2]
Pedro Reis' rhetoric underscores a stark ideological divide between the AD coalition's pro-market, reformist stance and the left's alleged intrusive, welfare-state orientation that allegedly stifles economic freedom and growth. This ideological contest forms the cornerstone of the coalition's electoral strategy ahead of the May 18, 2025 legislative election.[1][3] Should the AD coalition emerge victorious, policy directions would likely emphasize tax cuts, deregulation, and administrative reforms, while the left would focus on state intervention and redistribution efforts. [3][4]
- In his speech, Pedro Reis criticized the opposition for their taxation policy, suggesting they aim to take resources from families, companies, and investments without creating sustainable growth.
- The opposition, according to Pedro Reis, views state power as a means for personal gain, rather than effective governance, a stance he contrasts with the AD coalition's focus on a freer society, stronger economy, and supporting social mobility.
