This Friday, the prime minister described a meeting with the SDP president, which lasted more than three and a half hours, as a “very pleasant conversation”, during which they talked about various topics, including the new airport.
Speaking to reporters in the São Bento garden at the end of the meeting, António Costa promised that there would be a new conversation between them “soon” regarding the airport’s future decision for the Lisbon region.
“It was a very pleasant conversation, the first of several,” he concluded, noting that an “overview” was given of the country’s prospects and priorities in matters of Europe, defense or foreign policy.
Initially, no statements were planned for journalists, but shortly after the end of a long meeting with Luis Montenegro, it was reported that the prime minister would speak to the media.
“This morning I had the opportunity to have a working meeting with the new leader of the opposition, Dr. Luis Montenegro, it was a long meeting where we were able to touch on many different topics,” the head of government explained.
António Costa added that, “in accordance with the government’s responsibilities,” “the most detailed information” was given to the main opposition party in a variety of areas, from foreign and defense policy to internal security, going through “the issues of financial problems that the government is facing” . country”.
On the other hand, the prime minister said the meeting established “working methods” and “new points of contact”, especially in areas of sovereignty where “regular contacts are needed”, such as foreign and defense policy.
“And, of course, the mention of topics that need to be addressed, such as the issue of the airport, which we will talk about again soon,” he said.
“But above all, it was an opportunity in a calm atmosphere to get an overview of the situation in the country, the prospects for the country, the issues facing the European Union and the international headquarters. It was a very pleasant conversation and it will certainly be the first of several conversations,” summed up António Costa.
The prime minister and the SDP president met in private this Friday in Sao Bento for three and a half hours, marking the first meeting between them.
Luis Montenegro arrived at the official residence of the Prime Minister at 10:00, left at 13:42, and at the end of the meeting, the leader of the Social Democrats did not make statements to journalists.
With the former SDP leader Rui Rio, the first meeting in Sao Bento with the Prime Minister took place on February 20, 2018. It was also considered long, about two and a half hours, but much shorter than this meeting this Friday with Luis Montenegro.
At the end of May, Luis Montenegro was elected SDP leader with over 72% of the vote, succeeding Rui Rio, and officially took office earlier this month.
At the beginning of June, at a conference organized by the Portuguese-Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Lisbon, the Prime Minister stated that the decision on a new airport for the Lisbon region should be made by consensus with the PSD, arguing that this is a structuring process for several legislatures that will condition the actions of several governments.
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, the SDP leader said he would convey to the prime minister first-hand the position of the Social Democrats on solving the airport problem in the Lisbon region, and also left warnings to the Socialist executive about the process. .
“It is one thing to have a dialogue with the largest opposition party, it is another thing not to solve it. It is up to the government and the prime minister to decide. It was very interesting to discuss the opinion of the SDP, but we need to discuss the government’s opinion,” the same interview says.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
