Montenegro calm with Marcelo’s statements

In a meeting with correspondent journalists, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa associated Luís Montenegro with rural characteristics, stating that the prime minister “comes from a deep, urban-rural, urban country with rural behaviors”.

Previously, on the sidelines of the ceremony to lay the first stone in the Esposende City Park, Montenegro had also chosen not to respond on the topic of reparations to former colonies, referring to the statement released on Saturday by the Government.

Regarding the President of the Assembly of the Republic’s intention to hear the Attorney General of the Republic, Montenegro only said that “this is a matter for parliament”.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Government stated that “there was and is not in question any process or program of specific actions with the purpose” of reparation for the Portuguese colonial past and argued that it will be guided by “the same line” as previous executives.

“Regarding the issue of reparation to these States and their people for the colonial past of the Portuguese State, it is important to emphasize that the current Government is guided by the same line as previous Governments. There was and is not at stake any process or program of specific actions for this purpose”, says the statement.

Also on Friday, the President of the Republic argued that Portugal must lead the process of assuming and repairing the consequences of the period of colonialism and suggested as an example the forgiveness of debts, cooperation and financing, which have already been established, he said.