Macron’s idea is not supported by Portuguese candidates for European parliament
Portugal’s aspiring members of European parliament (MEP) have contested French president Emmanuel Macron’s idea of sending EU troops to fight Russia in Ukraine.
“Sending European troops to Ukraine should be the last solution, not least because Portugal doesn’t currently have the military capacity to do so,” said Tânger Correa from far-right party CHEGA in a questionnaire sent by Lusa to the list leaders for the European Parliament elections on June 9.
For IL list leader Cotrim Figueiredo, it must be taken into account that the “war is between two states only”, which do not belong to NATO. “We don’t think it’s reasonable for the Portuguese armed forces – which today barely have the conditions and resources in Portugal – to be called upon for this endeavour,” he said.
Catarina Martins, who leads the BE list, believes that the idea of a confrontation “between the world’s biggest nuclear powers is irresponsible and dangerous” and proposes holding a “peace conference, under the aegis of the United Nations”.
João Oliveira, number one on the CDU list, maintains that “helping the Ukrainian people means urgently opening a path of political negotiation for peace and not escalating the confrontation. We cannot accept that the youth of Portugal and the other countries that are part of the European Union should be sent to die wherever NATO wants them to or wherever Mr Macron says,” he says.
The Livre list leader, Francisco Paupério, also warns that such a decision “could contribute to the escalation of the conflict” and calls for an “immediate ceasefire”.
PS candidate Marta Temido argues that while Ukraine should receive “all the necessary support, direct European intervention in Ukrainian territory in the current context could entail a risk of escalation of the conflict that cannot be neglected, with the potential to aggravate the situation to the detriment of a speedy resolution”.
Speaking for the AD coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), Sebastião Bugalho did not give a “yes” or “no” answer to the question of sending European troops, including Portuguese ones, into the field, choosing instead to emphasise that “it is Putin who is at war with Europe, not Portugal who is at war with Russia”.
PAN candidate Pedro Fidalgo said that the European Union must “act proactively in guaranteeing its security and defence in different dimensions, such as cybersecurity, including cooperation and solidarity”.
Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed at the beginning of May that sending Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out, as he had already said in February.
“If the Russians crossed the front line, if there was a Ukrainian request – which is not the case at present – we should legitimately ask ourselves the question,” said the French president.
Source: LUSA
