The President of the Republic this morning decried António Costa’s absence from the concert and fireworks display in Peso da Régua, noting that the Prime Minister does not normally participate in these events as part of Portugal Day celebrations.
According to the Prime Minister’s official agenda, António Costa was scheduled to participate next Thursday in the “cocktail dînatoire”, a concert and fireworks show that took place at the Douro Museum, in Peso da Régua, during the commemorations of the Day of the Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities.
However, the prime minister was not on any of the three agenda items.
When Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa left the Douro Museum, shortly after seeing the fireworks launched from the Douro River, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was asked by journalists if he had missed the Prime Minister.
“Normally the prime minister never comes, he doesn’t come until the next day. (…) It was always like this: he comes to the military ceremony and then we normally go abroad,” replied Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, adding that António Costa should stay for lunch today, after the military ceremony.
When asked what the Prime Minister said in order not to attend, the Head of State replied: “Nothing, because in previous years it has always happened in principle that the Prime Minister does not come”.
“While I went to a reception for ambassadors, it is the foreign minister who is present,” he explained.
When asked if he no longer has António Costa, Marcelo replied: “No, no, not in principle”.
“It was the impression I left even when I was with him in South Africa now,” he said.
The commemorations of the Day of Portugal, of Camões of the Portuguese Communities, end today in Peso da Régua with the traditional military ceremony of June 10, after passing through South Africa.
The military ceremony, which is supposed to start at 10 a.m. at Praça do Município, will be attended by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic’s Assembly and party leaders, including PSD President Luís Montenegro.
Source: DN
