COMMENT: President Marcelo’s damning description last week of US President Donald Trump as a Russian asset has gone predictably ‘viral’ over ‘news providers’ that most people have never heard of.
Tik Tok ‘influencers’ have also made much of it – some even describing Marcelo as ”a major world leader”.
But when it comes to more weighty, respected media sources, there has been nothing – because, of course, there cannot be.
And in Portugal – beyond the criticism of opposition parties – the government has also kept very quiet.
Foreign affairs minister Paulo Rangel stressed that it is not up to him “nor should I comment on statements of the President of the Republic”.
“The definition of Portuguese foreign policy is up to the government. That is how our international partners, all of them, should understand the relationship with Portugal.
“Putting things in that context, I don’t think any further comment is necessary”, Rangel added, demonstrating perfectly why he has been chosen as the country’s ‘head of diplomacy.
Underneath the scrabbling to shove Marcelo’s comments under the first available carpet, however, a comment piece in EU Today suggests they hold more than a grain of wider acceptance.
“I am certain that many high officials of NATO member states and others have shared this sentiment at the very least in their minds and, perhaps, in private conversation”, writes Askold Kozynskyj, an American author and attorney of Ukrainian descent.
“No one outside the Kremlin has done more to support Russia, its aggression in Ukraine, and undermine American democracy than Donald J.Trump”.
But “diplomacy requires a level of restraint especially when dealing with a super power upon whom you have and may need to rely in the future”.
Intriguingly, the ‘odds-on’ favourite to clinch the position as Portugal’s next president – former Naval Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo – has published ‘thoughts’ on his social media page ‘Gouveia e Melo Presidente’ that connect very much to Marcelo’s ‘faux-pas’.
For those who do not understand Portuguese, the message is: “Europe has to wake up.
“Recent events have shown us a new world order. And this order is based on strength and power, not on international laws, or international agreements. Very simple things: new attitudes relating to globalisation, protectionist tariffs, are imposed on partners and allies. This shows what I mean by the new world order.
“The recent attack on Kyiv by Russia which attacked buildings 50 metres from the diplomatic representation of the European Union – there are international conventions that prohibit such attacks. This disrespect shows that the new world order is being done through the power of weaponry, or, put another way, through brute force.
“Europe has to wake up. Europe has the capacity as an economic power, as a human power, and a technological power. If Europe does not wake up, it will be a small partner of the new world order, and all of us, our democratic systems, our way of life, our economy and our freedom will be put at risk.
“Portugal is part of Europe. It has to have these concerns. The future is not rosy, but with intelligence, capacity and willingness to do so, we can alter our future and guarantee a more prosperous, safer future for all of us and the generations that follow”.
President Marcelo may very well have been ‘out of line’ by what he said to young political hopefuls in Portalegre last Wednesday, but he may have considered that now is the time for plain speaking. ND
