Santos Silva: the oracle of nothing

Ah, the unmistakable Augusto Santos Silva (SS). Always ready to appear as someone who has come to save democracy, when, in fact, he is only trying to save himself from political oblivion. Ever since the voters sent him home, with the right to a humiliating bronze medal behind Chega, SS has become a kind of inconsolable widow in the limelight. And like every widow who does not accept mourning, he has become bitter, moralistic and dangerously conceited.

Now without a position, without votes, without a mandate, he decided to reincarnate as a prosecutor of the Republic. Now he hands out sentences in prime time, comments on everything, censors everyone and, more recently, classifies presidential candidates with the carelessness of someone who thinks that only he knows what the country needs. Regarding his last appearance on SIC Notícias, on June 17, the liturgy of contempt was repeated: “None of the candidates meet the minimum requirements,” he declared.

The same professorial tone, the same political arrogance, the same disdain for all those who do not belong to his ideological chapel.

Now, dear SS: freedom of expression and democratic debate are not synonymous with insults. When you go down to the public square to ridicule those who have the courage to stand up, you are placing yourself on the same level as those who contribute to the degradation of democracy, not its defence. This is not institutional elevation: it is arrogance with a veneer. And if you are so angry about the lack of alternatives, if everyone is so weak, so far below the “minimum”, then run for office. What are you afraid of? You are always with Constança, Vitorino, of course, but, dear SS, Vitorino is from the moderate wing. And so is António José Seguro (AJS). He is not part of your troublemaking faction, the one that gets indignant at everything but does not hesitate to destroy its own.

Seguro, in fact, seems to be the main target. And it is clear why: he represents exactly what bothers Santos Silva. He is an honest, serious, sensible, hard-working politician, an exemplary democrat and ethically impeccable. He does not need sponsors or media make-up. He is where he is on merit, not by maneuvers. And that, for someone who lives off backroom deals and favors, is intolerable. Santos Silva says, with a studied air: “I don’t exclude myself from candidatures, whatever they may be.” Translation: he doesn’t want to seem available, but he longs for someone to ask him on his knees. It’s vanity disguised as sacrifice. The old art of those who insinuate without committing themselves, in the hope that the country will come looking for them.

But before we let ourselves be fooled by his serious pose, it is worth remembering who this self-proclaimed judge of the Republic is. SS began his militancy in the hot years after the 25th of April, in the Trotskyist committees of the União Operária Revolucionária, a far-left organization that would later merge into the Liga Comunista Internacionalista, alongside figures such as Francisco Louçã.

And in 1976? Well, he enthusiastically supported Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho for President. Yes, the Otelo of insurrection, of threats to democracy. Now, decades later, SS presents himself as a champion of institutionality and moderation. Irony? No. Chronic opportunism.

SS demands “profile”, “sense of state”, “presidential seriousness”. But he insults live, sabotages serious candidacies and spreads doubt with the comfort of knowing that no one confronts him. He asks for rigor, but cultivates ambiguity. He demands elevation, but throws mud. He seems like an atheist seminarian: he cites the rules, but no longer believes in any of them. The persecution of AJS is just the latest chapter in a familiar script: that of the resentful man with a microphone. Seguro does not need indulgence or artificial prominence. He has a clean track record, a career built on hard work and consistency, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of representative democracy. In other words, everything that SS stopped representing a long time ago.

Santos Silva does not debate: he disqualifies. He does not propose: he sabotages. He does not lead: he manipulates. He is a politician without a base, but with a platform. Without votes, but with a chair. And the country witnesses, once again, the spectacle of arrogance without scrutiny. The country needs clear choices. Candidates with courage, ideas and character. Those who unite instead of dividing, propose instead of destroying, represent instead of imposing. Portugal cannot be held hostage by those who live off of sound bites and the echo of their own ego.

If Santos Silva wants to be a candidate, let him say so. Let him have the courage that he demands of others. Let him face the citizens head on, without tricks or subterfuges. The country is free, and it should remain that way. Portugal does not need more shadows of the PREC disguised as statesmen. It needs light, truth, decency and courage. And yes — perhaps more figures like António José Seguro.