Portuguese PM dismisses backlash over Costa endorsement

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has rejected criticism of his coalition government backing the candidacy of António Costa as European Council president, arguing that there has always been a “great deal of convergence” between his Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Costa’s Socialist Party (PS) on EU issues.

“The Portuguese know, firstly, that from the point of view of the European construction process, there is a great deal of convergence,” Montenegro said on his way to a European Council meeting in Brussels on Monday evening.

He also reiterated that “there are no reservations or doubts whatsoever” about his Democratic Alliance (AD) government’s support for Costa’s candidacy for the European Council presidency.

“Costa has political positions which mean that, in addition to being Portuguese, we can have more confidence in him than in a German, Spanish, Maltese or Danish socialist, at least those who have been put forward as potential candidates,” he added.

Responding to criticism of the government’s position from the Liberal Initiative (IL) and Chega parties, the prime minister said that the government’s position was “not one of nationality” but of practicality, given that a socialist was certain to be elected anyway.

“We want the coordinator of the European Council meetings in the coming years so we can have bridges between the various political families and member states,” he said.

(André Ferrão, edited by Cristina Cardoso from Lusa.pt)

Read more with Euractiv