From Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the parties, the reactions to Costa’s approval in the European Council are not consensual. There are those who talk about “opportunity” and those who believe it is an “illusion.”
After having said that the “European Council will be in good hands”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa returned to speak of António Costa’s approval of the European position, highlighting the “merit” of the former prime minister for making “agreements” and “bridges”. ” for almost ten years. “In many cases, it managed to forge understandings between countries that had, from the beginning, very different positions and this is very good for Europe because it needs it now,” defended the President of the Republic.
“And the ideal solution”He had to be a socialist accepted by the EPP, by the liberals, but also accepted by the most radical right and with good relations in the world, with the ability to know files given that he is one of the longest serving prime ministers. The surprising thing is that, being the ideal solution, he has managed to be the ideal solution for a long time and until today,” said the Head of State the day after the news that António Costa had reached an agreement to become President of the European Council.
For Ventura, it is a “Bad choice for Europe and for the world.” “We cannot understand how, if António Costa was a bad option for Portugal, he can be a good option for Europe,” said the Chega manager.
Stressing that the party he leads is at the “antipodes of Costa’s thinking” in the “fight against corruption”, “in defence of a Europe with borders and not with completely uncontrolled immigration, in a Europe with a strong and not weak common security policy”, Ventura focused on the functions of the President of the European Council, particularly with regard to defence. And he recalled that, in Portugal, “there were important clashes in the Assembly of the Republic between the right and the left” on issues of security and justice, which led the president of Chega to conclude that it is a “nonsense that anti-socialist parties, such as the Liberals and Social Democrats, may today be supporting Costa.”
“I will not stop saying it just because António Costa is Portuguese. Europe, with António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, become even worse than it already was. Antonio Costa has a wrong view in terms of the fight against corruption, in terms of security, in terms of justice and in terms of diplomatic policy,” he said.
In addition to reiterating that Chega will not support António Costa, Ventura also welcomed the fact that Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister, “has also said this very clearly.” “The ID group will not support and will firmly reject the appointment” to the European Council, guaranteed the president of Chega. Still, regardless of the political position, Ventura said that “the On a personal level, welcome António Costa” and called the moment a “victory” for the former prime minister.
The PCP defended itself as “a mirage”that the President of the European Council, like all other officials in the institutional bodies of the European Union, is changing the essence of its “neoliberal, federalist and militarist course”.
“The decision on the distribution of positions in the institutional bodies of the European Union is determined by what it represents as a political project, commanded by the great European powers and serving the interests of transnational capital, and by the guarantee that the system neoliberal and federalist “Of course militarist, the process of capitalist integration continues and deepens,” the communists defended in a statement.
In a note published the day after the election of António Costa as president of the European Council, the PCP declares that “This is not a mere appreciation.”on the appointment of the former Portuguese Prime Minister to this post.
“It is an illusion to admit that the holder of any of the main positions in the division, regardless of the personality that occupies it or the political family to which he belongs among those who divide them, alters the essence of this process and project,” they maintain.
Inês Sousa Real considered that this is an opportunity that “should not be wasted,” warning “many challenges” in Europe in the coming years. “Portugal has been, through this type of elections, whether in the UN or in other types of positions, assuming what is not only our vision, but also the concerns and chance to participate in the decision at the European or international level, which can guarantee progress regarding the causes and concerns that we represent,” defended the only PAN deputy.
The president of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, congratulated the election in a statement and highlighted the experience of the former prime minister, stating that he will have an “enormous challenge” at the head of the institution.
Source: Observadora
