Portugal can take advantage of weaknesses in other countries
Portugal’s prime minister Luís Montenegro has referred today to “the uncertainties” on the horizon” in Germany and France, due to the political and financial instability that both countries are experiencing – admitting at a conference organised by ECO online that they could “condition Portugal’s near future”.
Refusing to ‘whinge’ (his words), the PM stressed that his government’s objective is to ensure that the country takes advantage of the weaknesses in other countries to impose itself economically.
“From the point of view of our national interest, we can establish ourselves in Europe, and from Europe also in the world, as a safe destination for investment and the utilisation of human and business capital, so that we can be more productive, efficient in creating wealth and, with this, set in motion our objective of growth and give durability to our (economic) trajectory,” he told his audience.
The head of government used his speech to insist on the issue of security, which led him to hold a press conference during prime television viewing time last week, much criticised by the opposition: “We need to stop the rise in crime. Look at Sweden, Holland or Belgium,” he added, explaining that security will be a “crucial aspect for economic life and for attracting investment” to this country.
“We really are one of the safest countries in the world. I really feel strongly about what I’m saying: we are objectively one of the safest countries in the world,” he went on, repeating that “the Portuguese demand that this not just be a proclamation, and that we can then sit back and wait for it to be maintained forever (…) We obviously need to stop any increase in crime that could jeopardise this value in itself. Because there are countries that a few years ago were as safe as us and today they are not”.
Source: Observador online
