Marcelo highlights the importance given to Portugal by the Lula administration
“Today in the Congress of Deputies the first country to be placed: Portugal. Greeting the inaugurated 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 it’s due to 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 mentioned. For example, in the European Union, it is obviously a priority to try to move forward with the European Union/Mercosur dossier – Portugal is important in this“, he added.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “Portugal is important for the simple reason 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.
“How logical is the position it gives to other countries in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)”, he continued.
The Portuguese head of state noted that “in the first five countries to serve President Lula” there were “three from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) – in addition to Portugal, in first place, East Timor in third, Cape Verde in fourth “.