Marcelo highlights the importance given to Portugal by the Lula administration – Observer
The Portuguese head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, highlighted this Sunday the importance given to Portugal by the Brazilian administration of Lula da Silva at the inauguration ceremony of the President of Brazil.
“Today [este domingo], in the Congress of Deputies, the first country to be placed: Portugal. Greeting the sworn-in President: Portugal”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, speaking to journalists, in a hotel in Brasília, after the ceremony.
Asked what, in his opinion, this emphasis given to Portugal is due to, the head of state replied: “I think there are two reasons, one formal, the other substantial.. Formal: Portugal was the first country to congratulate Lula da Silva on his victory”.
“Substantial: I think there is an understanding of the importance of Portugal in several of the domains I spoke about. For example, in the European Union, it is obviously a priority to try to follow up with the European Union/Mercosur dossier. Portugal is important in this,” she added.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “Portugal is important for the simple fact that there is a Portuguese Secretary General of the United Nations” and also “by the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries [CPLP]”.
“Portugal is important because, over time, Lula has come to know Portugal very well, he knows Portugal, and he came to know him at different stages of his life, and anyone who has gone through different stages, in power and in the opposition, knows of a fundamental constancy of the position Portuguese in the world”, he maintained. “Therefore, this is logical”, he considered.