The Prime Minister defended on Thursday that the Governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno, should succeed him in leading a new executive, within the current parliamentary framework, but regretted that the President of the Republic had opted for early elections.
This position was expressed by António Costa at the entrance to the meeting of the National Political Commission of the PS, after the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, announced that he would dissolve Parliament and call early parliamentary elections on March 10 would plan.
“It is clear that the PS is always ready for elections and respects the decision of the President of the Republic. It was his own choice, as the Council of State did not comment on this proposal”he stated in a first note in which he disagreed with the decision of the head of state.
Afterwards, António Costa claimed that the country had advantages in avoiding early elections because it had a new government led by the former Minister of Finance and current Governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno.
“The PS, as a reference for stability in the country, was responsible for presenting an alternative solution that would spare the country months of paralysis until the elections, including the appointment of a personality with strong government experience, respected and admired by the Portuguese . with strong international prestige: Professor Mário Centeno”specified.
However, according to the Prime Minister, “the President of the Republic understood that holding elections was better than a stable solution, with a strong government of renewed quality, led by Professor Mário Centeno”.
‘The country did not deserve to be called for elections again’added the PS Secretary General.
According to António Costa it is country “it should take advantage of the existing stability, change the Prime Minister, also change the government, give it new energy and soul, and Mário Centeno had all the qualities to be able to do that”.
Regarding the fact that he will remain in office until March 2024, the Prime Minister replied that he would “at the service of the country”.
“At the moment, the government is fully in office. The President of the Republic has announced that once the 2024 budget is approved, he will formalize the acceptance of my resignation and the executive branch will therefore become a management government.”he pointed out.
When asked about the content of the communication from the President of the Republic to the country, António Costa said that he recorded “the kind words” he addressed to him.
“As for the solution that the PS presented to the President of the Republic, I think it was a serious alternative, given the current international context and the needs of the country. But this proposal was not accepted by the President of the Republic, who preferred another solution. “he emphasized, in an allusion to the possibility of early elections.
The Prime Minister, António Costa, asked the President of the Republic to resign on Tuesday, who accepted.
António Costa is the target of an investigation by the Public Prosecution Service at the Supreme Court after suspects in a case involving lithium, green hydrogen and data center that Sines had put forward his name because he had intervened to unblock procedures.
According to the Attorney General, the investigation may relate to crimes, active and passive corruption of political office holders and influence peddling.
According to the indictment, to which Lusa had access, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) believes that the Prime Minister intervened in the approval of a diploma favorable to the interests of the company Start Campus, responsible for data center.
On the day of his dismissal, António Costa refused to commit “any illegal or offensive act” and expressed his full willingness to cooperate with justice.
Source: DN
