The president of the republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on Thursday demanded a consensus on the airport solution for the Lisbon region, accusing the prime minister, António Costa, of the “luckier or less fortunate” choice of his government team.
In a statement to journalists from Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon, after which he did not respond to questions, the head of state noted that Wednesday’s order from the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Hugo Santos Mendes, on the matter “has already been revoked”. or it will be revoked”.
“What will the future look like now that the injunction has been revoked?” he wondered, defending that there are “three conditions” that must be met: it must be “a relatively quick decision”, it must be “a matter of consensus”. and then ‘clear and consistent so that it may be believed’.
In an allusion to the continuity in the functions of the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated after this episode that “it is the prime minister who at any time must look to the past and present to see if they are the ones best placed to achieve their objectives”.
The president of the republic emphasized that the current government “had been given a mandate by a majority vote of the Portuguese” – in the law of January 30, which the PS won by an absolute majority – and “started working three months ago” .
And of course it is the Prime Minister who is responsible for that, for choosing, happier or less happy, for the assessment he makes at any time, happier or less happy, of his employees about the best chances they have of pursuing goals. conduct,” he added.
“It’s that simple. I have nothing more to say,” he concluded.
The head of state also reiterated that it is up to António Costa to choose a team with “the best conditions to pursue these objectives” – a quick, consensual and consistent solution – noting: “If so, the objectives are achieved. If not, the objectives are not achieved”.
According to the constitution, the prime minister is responsible for choosing. Well, that’s all I have to say, that’s all,’ he declared, heading for the exit of the Palace of Belém.
In his speech, delivered in the Sala das Bicas, which lasted four minutes, the head of state said that this “is an issue that has been discussed for ever and that it is urgent”, saying that António Costa “promised that he would be united” .
“Everything necessary to reach an agreement must be done,” he demanded, arguing that “a solution for decades” and that “there is no government, no party in power for decades”.
“Then it has to be consistent. I mean, you have to look at the solution, whatever it may be, and be clear that the Portuguese understand, and are consistent from a political point of view, from a technical point of view, from an economic point of view, from the point of view of the law,” he opined.
This morning, the prime minister ordered the infrastructure minister to withdraw the order published Wednesday on the airport solution for the Lisbon region and reaffirmed the need to negotiate and agree with the opposition, through a statement.
During the afternoon, Infrastructure and Housing Minister Pedro Nuno Santos took responsibility for “communication errors” but said he would remain in office.
António Costa then closed the case, as Pedro Nuno Santos “did not act in bad faith” and publicly admitted “to have committed a serious error, which was fortunately quickly corrected”, and that therefore “confidence has been fully restored” in the minister .
It concerns the publication in Diário da República of an order that stipulates, among other things, the “study of the solution aimed at the construction of Montijo airport as a transition infrastructure and the new ‘stand alone’ airport in Campo de Tiro Alcochete, in the various technical areas”.
Several media reported on Wednesday, based on the Ministry of Infrastructure, that the government had decided to go ahead with this solution, provided that Montijo airport to enter into service at the end of 2026 and that of Alcochete in 2035, when Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport would be deactivated.
On Wednesday evening, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, adopted this solution in interviews with RTP and SIC Notícias – two days before the PSD congress in which Luís Montenegro will take charge of this party.
Prime Minister António Costa had stated in parliament last week that he was waiting to hear from the new PSD chairman on the matter so that there would be “sufficient national consensus” for a “final and irreversible” decision on the matter. matter. †
At the end of the day on Wednesday, the president of the republic said he was not aware of the “concrete outlines” of the government’s new airport solution for the Lisbon region and declined to comment on it without having more information. .
Questioned by Lusa, a source close to the PSD president-elect said Luís Montenegro was “knowing nothing”.
Source: El heraldo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
