António Costa’s choice for the European Council puts Bugalho and Cotrim Figueiredo at odds
On his first trip to Brussels after the Europeans, the newly elected João Cotrim de Figueiredo accused the Government of privileging António Costa’s nationality instead of its usefulness for the European project with the announced support, which it called “parochial†. ALREADY Sebastião Bugalho rejected “entering into a debate” with the liberal about criticism of the AD’s support, stating that there is a “principle of reciprocity”.
Although the inauguration is only scheduled for July 16, the two new MEPs (as well as Marta Temido) are in Brussels this Tuesday for a first contact with the institution. And it was from there that they exchanged words about the possible choice of the previous prime minister for the European Council.
“They are prioritizing nationality over utility. I think it’s parochial, sorry to tell you, when people’s nationality counts more than their ideas. We can have a person with absolutely unacceptable ideas and only because it is our country to support them. It doesn’t make sense”, said João Cotrim de Figueiredo in the European Parliament. The former president of the Liberal Initiative considered that the former prime minister António Costa “doesn’t like change”, therefore, “he doesn’t serve the European project”.
The closeness between the French President, also a liberal, and António Costa, is well known, who on several occasions praised the former Portuguese Prime Minister’s dialogue skills. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already shown support for António Costa, if the former socialist general secretary moves forward. Germany and France tend to agree on this decision, so an endorsement from Emmanuel Macron is expected.
But João Cotrim de Figueiredo called on all liberals to be “sufficiently coherent” and reject a person who “does not have a liberal stance on the future of Europe”. “I would be very sorry if other liberals didn’t think that way”, he acknowledged, adding that he will try to influence the decision of Renovar a Europa, a liberal political group, in this sense.
Sebastião Bugalho preferred not to respond. “I will not enter into a debate with João Cotrim de Figueiredo upon my first arrival at the European Parliament, nor do I have to respond to the Portuguese liberal deputies, with whom we look forward to working.†.
The independent MEP elected by the Democratic Alliance said he noticed “João Cotrim de Figueiredo’s antipathy towards António Costa, with whom he debated so many times in the Assembly of the Republic”, but He said he was in the European Parliament to “look forward and not back”.
Sebastião Bugalho stated that support for António Costa as successor to Charles Michel on the European Council follows a “principle of reciprocity”. “António Costa, when he was a Portuguese MEP [foi também vice-presidente do Parlamento Europeu], voted in favor of the election of José Manuel Durão Barroso as president of the European Commission. In this sense, reciprocity is a Portuguese feeling, which we are going to put into practice in this case”he completed.
The elected MEP added that “the support of liberals may be necessary in a set of solutions that will be positive for the Portuguese”, which is why he said it is important to avoid “creating false cleavages” and neglecting the contribution of liberals during the next legislature.
