'Rui Rio uses German in a childish and dishonest way'

Many years ago, he advertised for Molaflex, his father's company, and became known for jumping on the mattress. Does anyone still call him Molinhas?

I did a TV commercial, and Molinhas was the brand's mascot, inspired by that ad. For a few years, the nickname haunted me, but it didn't last as a teenager. No one calls me that, but they know it's me.

He was a sailing champion and made money with a shipping company. After leaving Porto City Hall, are you planning on taking long boat trips? Or do you have other ideas in mind? Yes, I'll be able to go boating. I've already booked everything with my family for next summer.

You worked in restaurants in London after your father was arrested following March 11, 1975. Did you get the nightlife bug in London, and that's why you bought the POP nightclub? What gave you the most joy as an owner? In London, I worked in restaurants. But I've always enjoyed going out. POP was an incredible project I founded with my ex-wife, Cristina Ferreira, chef Heitor de Melo, Artur Miranda, and Jacques Bec (now famous interior designers). People in Porto still remember it. But a nightclub is like a yacht, offering two moments of pleasure. The first is the day of purchase, the second is the day of sale.

Death was close at hand when he fell ill before he was 30. How did he realize the severity of the problem? How did he live with the disease, and how did the transplant change his life? At 26, I was successful and had a son. I felt like Superman. Without warning, I was on death's door. More than two years of hemodialysis, a prison. And then the miracle, with the gift of my brother Sebastião, a transplant that gave me back my life 40 years ago.

When was the last time you went to a nightclub? This summer, in the Algarve.

Did you say that Porto in the 1970s was more cosmopolitan than Lisbon? Why hasn't it been more so? Yes, because Porto wasn't enchanted by the empire. We had stores like Porfírios, which looked like something out of Carnaby Street; we had Celina's fashions; we had Batô, Twins, and D. Urraca; and people like Miguel Veiga, Vasco Graça Moura, or, for that matter, my parents, who owned Mundo. Lisbon was more self-absorbed. I think that after a long decline, Porto has become more cosmopolitan again.

You described Pedro Nuno Santos as a cross between Marx and Santa Claus. What about the other leaders? Montenegro, Ventura, Carneiro, Leitão, Raimundo, and Mortágua?

The reference to Pedro Nuno had a context: his election promises. I have a personal fondness for him. Few people know, but his mother worked at Molaflex. I won't characterize the others; among them, I'm a friend of Montenegro.

It's said he always dreamed of being president of FC Porto, but never did. He considered running for president of Belém, but never did. What was missing to get ahead? I've explained a thousand times that it never even crossed my mind to lead FC Porto. It's an urban myth. I dreamed of being mayor of Porto, and I'm very grateful to the people of Porto for having their trust in me. As for the Republic, the sympathy I felt didn't translate into enthusiasm; Cotrim emerged, and Luís Marques Mendes showed he can win if the votes aren't dispersed.

He who has no dog hunts with a cat. I wanted to support Paulo Portas, but since he's not making progress either, I'm considering supporting Marques Mendes. Why? I didn't say I wanted to support Portas. What I said was that if Paulo ran—which never seemed likely to me—I would hardly not support him, because I owe him a political debt. Yes, I support Marques Mendes, and my last column in SOL explains why. Besides the respect he deserves for his character and seriousness, I identify with what he advocates for the position.

Would you consider joining a party, specifically the PSD? No.

Your relationship with Rui Rio has never been the best. Have you ever spoken ill of each other in German? No. I don't. Dr. Rui Rio regularly has complaints about me, but I don't value him at all. I don't deserve any consideration or even dislike. Besides, he only resorts to German—which he doesn't even speak well—in a childish and harebrained way to avoid responding to journalists...

What is the greatest legacy he leaves to the city of Porto? Cross-cultural culture and civic irreverence. Uncomplicated optimism.

Has uncontrolled immigration improved or worsened city life? Does parochialism still exist? Anything uncontrolled is bad. And yes, parochialism exists, fortunately. It's good, controlled, and in the right doses.

Who were the great figures of Porto in the last 50 years? Sá Carneiro and Miguel Veiga; Agustina Bessa Luís, Ana Luisa Amaral, Eugénio de Andrade; Távora, Siza and Souto Moura; Jonas Marques Pinto, Valente de Oliveira and Artur Santos Silva; Pinto da Costa; Rui Veloso and Carlos Tê, Abrunhosa and Reininho.

And FC Porto's best 11? Vitor Baía, João Pinto, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Branco, Deco, Pavão, Madjer, Cubillas, Fernando Gomes and Jardel.