Marcelo does not see Hungary as a “specific political problem” on Costa’s scale

Hungary is a state of the European Union (EU). [Viktor Orbán] is Prime Minister of the European Union. We can agree or disagree with him on migration, economic and social policies and many things, but he is part of the group of countries that are our natural allies in the EU,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The Portuguese head of state, in statements to RTP1, spoke in Belém before attending the match of the Portuguese national team, which plays today against Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon.

On May 31, António Costa, traveling in an Air Force Falcon 50, made a stopover in Budapest on his way to Moldova for the European Political Community summit, with the stop not appearing on his public agenda, as reported by the Observer. .

According to the same newspaper, the head of the Portuguese government, together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, attended the Europa League football final match between Sevilla and Roma, the Italian team led by José Mourinho.

The stop in Hungary drew criticism from the opposition, who demanded clarification from António Costa.

The Lusa bureau questioned the Prime Minister’s office on the matter, but received no response so far.

“The fact that I made a stopover on the way or stopped for an hour and a half or two to support a Portuguese and watch a football match, I honestly do not see that there is a specific problem politically,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The President of the Republic had already announced on Friday that the Prime Minister had informed him of the stopover in Budapest.

When asked if the shutdown should not be on the prime minister’s public agenda today, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa referred the question to António Costa, but was convinced it was a “last minute” decision.

“I think he decided at the last minute. He came for an audience and left straight for Moldova. I have the impression that it must have occurred to him that he happened to be on the road, it was necessary to make a technical stopover and he took the opportunity to watch football,” he underlined.