Prime Minister Antonio Costa traveled this Wednesday to personally greet former SDP President Rui Rio, seated in the fourth row of the SDP bench, ahead of the start of the State of the Nation parliamentary debate.
A few minutes before the start of the debate, when the government was already in the semi-cycle, António Costa left his seat in the center of the executive bench and moved to the seat of the PSD parliamentary group.
The Prime Minister then warmly welcomed Ruy Rio, who was watching the plenary session in the fourth row along with former PSD leader Malo de Abreu.
During the debate period, and before beginning his response to SDP parliamentary leader Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Costa publicly saluted Rui Rio.
“I want to welcome Dr. Rui Rio and thank him for the best contribution he has made to our country, especially in difficult and difficult times like the pandemic. Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy,” he thanked, receiving applause from the PS bench, but also from the PSD parliamentary group.
Rui Rio, who led the SDP for four and a half years, left office on July 3 with the inauguration of his successor, Luis Montenegro, who is now also in Parliament and oversees the State of the Nation debate from office. reserved for the chairman of the party in the Assembly of the Republic.
This should be the last time António Costa and Rui Rio cross paths in a plenary session of Parliament, as the former Social Democrat leader expressed his intention to step down as MP in early September.
For his part, Luis Montenegro arrived today in the corridor of the PSD in the Parliament at around 2:20 pm, accompanied by the leader of the Parliament, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and some “deputies” of the bench.
When asked by journalists what is the meaning of his presence in parliament today, he answered only: “It means support for the deputy group.”
He then joined the PSD President’s office as part of a parliamentary group, where he was photographed with Miranda Sarmento, who admitted they were talking to prepare a debate on the state of the nation.
Today will also see the “debut” of Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, elected last week as the SDP’s parliamentary leader with 59% of the vote, much lower than his predecessor, Paulo Mota Pinto, who was elected in April with 92% of the vote. votes, but who called early elections at the request of Luis Montenegro.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
