The IL president said this Monday that if the prime minister assures he is not interested in a European role, “it is likely” he is, dismissing “great concerns” about the future of António Costa, who he accuses of not solving the problems.
“If I look at the Prime Minister’s history, I would say that if he assures you that he is not interested in a European role, he is probably interested in a European role. We have a long history of statements by António Costa that promises, things that don’t keep and so maybe this is a sign that there is indeed interest,” Rui Rocha told journalists on the sidelines of a visit to the Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão, in Cascais.
The leader of the IL was asked about the news in the newspaper Público, which reports that António Costa says he will not be available for a position in the European Union after the June 2024 elections.
“For the country, the most important thing is that, if it is true that António Costa is not interested in these European functions, he has not been interested in carrying out his role as Prime Minister, in solving the country’s problems, that i.e. the most important part is worrying. As for the prime minister’s wishes and intentions, that’s up to him,” he added.
For Rui Rocha, “the fundamental point is that if you go to Brussels, you don’t use the Falcon, because it makes no sense to use public resources for private purposes”, referring to the recent controversy with António Costa’s stopover in Budapest to watch the Liga final Football Europe, a presence that was not on the official agenda.
“It is not worth worrying very much about the future of the Prime Minister here. What is fundamental is the future of the country and that, as we have already understood, cannot be solved with António Costa, nor in Portugal , nor in Brussels, that is irrelevant”, repeated
According to the liberal leader, “it is necessary to build an alternative that will bring the country to the level of development it needs”, something that António Costa accuses of not being able to do
In response to the newspaper Público, in response to the news that Brussels will pressure the Portuguese Prime Minister to go to the European Council, António Costa explained that he will not accept any mission that endangers the stability of the country .
“I guarantee stability. I have already explained to everyone that I will not accept any mission that would jeopardize the stability in Portugal. Would I ever jeopardize the stability that I have won so hard?” he wondered.
Público also writes that the Prime Minister’s unavailability to occupy European positions is linked to “his concern not to provoke political crises in Portugal”.
Source: DN
