António Costa said on Sunday that he expects “continuity, with a new energy, with a new drive” from the new PS leadership of Pedro Nuno Santos and promised as former secretary general “not to chase anyone”.
António Costa spoke at the PS national headquarters in Lisbon, where he held a meeting of about an hour and a half on Sunday with the newly elected Secretary General of the Socialists, Pedro Nuno Santos.
“Once this moment is over, we are all united to ensure that from March 10 there will be continuity, with new energy, with a new impetus, from the cycle of good governance of the PS,” said António Costa.
“It is normal that everyone who arrives does things differently. And I will not be here to chase anyone so that they do not do things differently than me,” he added.
Pedro Nuno Santos was elected PS general secretary with 62% of the votes in direct elections held between Friday and Saturday. He competed against José Luís Carneiro, who finished in second place with 36%, and Daniel Adrião, who came in second place with 36%. 1% of the votes.
António Costa arrived first at the PS national headquarters and waited at the door for Pedro Nuno Santos, who arrived five minutes later. The two greeted each other with a hug. ‘Comrade general secretary, how are you? Welcome and congratulations,” Costa said.
Costa has an open space full of possibilities and will have the party at his side: Pedro Nuno Santos
In turn, Pedro Nuno Santos guaranteed that his predecessor, António Costa, “has his space of possibilities open and at his disposal” and assured that he will have the party at his side.
“I hope that the country can somehow continue to count on António Costa’s contribution”said Pedro Nuno Santos at the end of the approximately hour and a half meeting.
When asked whether the political future of the still Prime Minister could include a European position, the newly elected Secretary General of the PS replied: “It obviously makes no sense, as you can imagine, for us to talk publicly about what António Costa can or cannot do in the future”.
“António Costa has his space of possibilities open and at his disposal, with the certainty that he will have the PS at his side – I have also said this several times. I hope that the country can somehow rely on the contribution continue to count on António Costa”he added.
Pedro Nuno Santos previously once again expressed his recognition and gratitude for the work of António Costa: “He was a very important Prime Minister for the country, and he still is. The results of the administration are very important, we are very proud on these results”.
“And now we want to continue, not only complete many of the projects started by the current government, but start a new phase, a new cycle, as António Costa said, with a new impetus, with new energy,” he declared.
Pedro Nuno Santos was elected PS general secretary with 62% of the votes in direct elections held between Friday and Saturday. He competed against José Luís Carneiro, who finished in second place with 36%, and Daniel Adrião, who came in second place with 36%. 1% of the votes.
Source: DN
