Clearly keen to distance himself from yesterday’s ‘spoof’ that suggested he was courting President Trump’s favour, Portugal’s prime minister has said today that he disapproves mightily of the president’s idea that the board of peace – reportedly made up of some of the world’s most reactionary leaders – could ever represent an alternative to the United Nations.
Speaking to journalists on his arrival at the extraordinary European Council summit in Brussels last night, Luís Montenegro said that he would be advocating “a position of unity” regarding possible participation of member states on the board created by President Trump, but he stressed: “It is important to make it very clear that any alternative to the United Nations will not be accepted by us.
“There is no alternative to the United Nations; it is in the United Nations that the multilateral context is expressed and the concerted action of nations must be evident.”
Mr Montenegro did concede that “the idea of a Board of Peace to accompany and monitor the peace process in the Gaza Strip may eventually develop and see some participation (from Portugal). Anything that goes beyond this objective, of a generic nature of intervention that in some way competes with the spirit and functioning of the United Nations, seems completely inappropriate to us,” he reiterated – adding he did not intend to say anything more on this subject ‘at the moment’, because “those who seek a solution of unity, solidarity and a joint position also naturally need to listen to other partners”. And “that is what Portugal will do.”
There is the distinct feeling in the air that PM Montenegro remains ‘very much not delighted’ by the way results fell in the presidential elections. Asked if he had discussed and coordinated with the country’s president, as well as with the two presidential candidates – António José Seguro and André Ventura – positions Portugal will be taking at this summit, he altogether ignored the issue of the presidential candidates, insisting that President Marcelo is “in full exercise of his function” (as indeed Marcelo has said himself) and that “all institutional cooperation continues to be carried out between the government and the country’s president”.
To be fair, any perceived necessity to consult either presidential candidate was almost certainly ‘only in journalists’ minds’. Almost a provocation.
“I can confirm that I have spoken several times with the country’s president about this and other issues on our internal and external agenda,” said the PM
Reporters – nonetheless clamouring for soundbites – said: the government’s preferred candidate for the presidency (Luís Marques Mendes) has already said he will be voting in the second-round for António José Seguro, ‘would the prime minister perhaps be doing the same’?
Their questions fell on stony ground. Luís Montenegro replied that ‘he had nothing to add on the matter’, writes Lusa.
Source: LUSA
