Speaking to journalists after visiting the Bienal de Artes Plásticas at Festa do Avante! in Quinta da Atalaia, Seixal, António Filipe stated that with Portuguese citizens aboard the humanitarian flotilla, “the Portuguese state must not overlook this situation and should provide necessary diplomatic support to ensure safety.”
“I believe the government’s reaction was not the most appropriate. We must not ignore this, regardless of the fact that one of the participants holds a state office — which is not irrelevant — but with Portuguese citizens involved, the state must remain vigilant, monitor the situation, and do what it can to ensure the safety of our compatriots,” he asserted.
António Filipe was referring to the humanitarian flotilla that departed from Barcelona last Sunday en route to the Gaza Strip, where Israel is engaged in conflict with the Hamas Islamic movement. The flotilla includes BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte.
After Mariana Mortágua claimed that the Portuguese government had a legal and moral obligation to use “all instruments” to ensure the flotilla’s safe arrival in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel dismissed the argument, calling it unusual.
“We’re not about to send the Portuguese Navy to escort this flotilla or start a war against Israel. I’m not sure what is being asked,” stated Paulo Rangel.
In his address to journalists, António Filipe, a candidate supported by the PCP, argued that the President of the Republic should play a more active role concerning the situation in Palestine, emphasizing that as the highest representative of the Portuguese state internationally, his opinion on the matter “should be considered.”
“I believe Portugal should have recognized the State of Palestine long ago and should do so unconditionally,” he argued, calling it incomprehensible that Portugal is “one of the few countries in the world” yet to do so.
António Filipe further stated that the Portuguese state should have taken “a firmer international stance in condemning the genocide being carried out by the State of Israel against the people of Gaza” and also against the “illegal” expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
“The Portuguese state should be more assertive in this matter and abandon the ambiguity it has been hiding behind, which favors leniency towards the genocide being carried out in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
When asked if he believes the President of the Republic has also demonstrated such ambiguity, António Filipe replied, “At certain times, that is obvious,” emphasizing that if he were President, he would adopt a different stance regarding the “complicit manner” in which the government has behaved towards Israel.
“If I were President, I would publicly express a different opinion concerning the positioning of the Portuguese state,” he assured.
