Sánchez says Costa has all the qualities to chair the European Council

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The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, said today that the former Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, “has all the qualities” to be President of the European Council, but warned that this is a very premature debate.

Claiming to be “a declared fan of António Costa’s politics and the leadership he has exercised both in Portugal and in Europe”, Sánchez stressed that the debate and negotiations for the choice of the next president of the European Council are still “at a very premature stage”.

Even so, he added that with regard to the European political family to which the Socialists belong and what their contribution could be within the European Council in that debate, António Costa, in his opinion, “has all the qualities” to occupy the position.

“But that obviously has to be a negotiation process that hasn’t started yet, and so it’s too early for me to make a clearer statement. But anyway, António Costa is a great politician,” he said.

Sánchez was asked about the possibility of António Costa chairing the European Council, the body where the heads of state or government of the European Union countries sit, at a press conference in Madrid alongside the new Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.

According to Sánchez, the leaders of the Portuguese and Spanish governments have not spoken today about the possibility of António Costa chairing the European Council and Spain supporting the former Prime Minister for the post.

Sánchez says Costa has all the qualities to chair the European Council

“But I understand that the Prime Minister [Luís Montenegro] has a very good relationship with former Prime Minister Costa. Prime Minister Luís [Montenegro] knows that I am a declared fan of António Costa’s politics and the leadership he has exercised both in Portugal and in Europe,” said Pedro Sánchez.

Luís Montenegro, for his part, did not comment on the possibility of António Costa running for the European Council and limited himself to saying that he is not “as fond of the policies” of the former Portuguese Prime Minister as Pedro Sánchez.

“But that doesn’t stop us from having common purposes and common goals that we will try to achieve together,” he said.

Elections to the European Parliament will take place in June, followed by the selection of the presidents of the Commission and the Council for the new European legislature.

Hervé Hubert
Hervé Hubert
Hervé Hubert is a 55-year-old writer and journalist based in Porto, Portugal. Born in France, he brings a unique blend of French and Portuguese perspectives to his work. Education Hervé studied Journalism and Literature at the University of Lyon in France. After completing his studies, he gained valuable experience working with various French media outlets (Portugal France also). Career He worked for several years as a journalist in France before making the move to Portugal. In Porto, he joined the Portugal Pulse team as a staff writer. Skills Hervé specializes in storytelling, investigative journalism, and cultural commentary. He has a flair for capturing complex issues in a relatable way. Personal Life He currently resides in Porto and enjoys the city's rich culture, from Fado music to Francesinha cuisine. Hervé continues to maintain strong ties to his French heritage, often traveling back to France for family visits and cultural exploration. With his unique background and diverse skill set, Hervé Hubert adds a layered, multicultural lens to every story he covers.

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