Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was accused by the PS of “disrespecting History”, with Marta Temido, head of the European list, stating that the crimes of the colonial era and the way to compensate for them are topics “too sensitive” to be addressed by the president in a “declaration of circumstances”. Yesterday, another head of state from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) spoke about the topic: Carlos Vila Nova, from Sao Tome, warned that the acts of “ill-treatment and violence” caused by colonization “have not been resolved”. But Minister Paulo Rangel insisted that “nothing has changed” compared to previous executives in the relationship with the former colonies, after the Government guaranteed that “no process or program of specific actions with the purpose” of reparation for the former colonies was at stake. colonies.
Marcelo’s appeal for Portugal to lead this process, suggesting debt forgiveness, in addition to cooperation and the granting of lines of credit and financing, continues to generate turmoil. The president said that the current Government must continue the survey of the heritage assets of the former colonies, started by the previous one, and return them.
When handing over the lists to the Europeans, the PS’s first candidate, Marta Temido, criticized the way Marcelo addressed Portugal’s responsibility for crimes in the colonial era and compensation. For the former Minister of Health, these topics should not be talked about “en passant” or treated “in the light, light context of a statement of circumstances”. “I think that this, in some way, is disrespecting what History is, the involvement of all parties in a historical process,” she added. But she preferred to emphasize that “it’s not a criticism, it’s an observation”.
“Very clear government position”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, insisted that “nothing has changed” compared to previous governments. “The Government’s position is very clear,” he said, referring to Saturday’s statement. “It shows a very mature, I would say at the same time balanced, vision of the relationship we have with the former colonies and the colonial past”. And “the Government has a vision in line with that of previous governments”.
Last week, an Executive source recalled that strategic cooperation programs with the PALOP until 2027 involve almost 1,200 million euros: 750 for Angola, 170 for Mozambique, 95 for Cape Verde, 70 million for Timor, 60 for São Tomé and 19 to Guinea.
But, yesterday, the São Tomé president highlighted that “decolonization may be resolved, but the acts of mistreatment, violence and others that occurred are not resolved”. He regards Marcelo’s words “with normality, especially because, at the level of other colonizing powers, this process is already a little advanced, it is already under discussion”.
Controversy also continues to generate the initiative that Chega delivered for Parliament to condemn Marcelo’s statements. “Just as it can condemn other heads of state, it can also condemn ours”, he argued, saying that it is “very close” to a “betrayal of the country”. And he insists on hearing Rangel.
Temido commented that “Chega’s initiatives are Chega’s initiatives” and asked for respect for the rules of democracy. Via IL, Rui Rocha said that Ventura uses the vote of conviction “to continue to be a protagonist in the news”. And the PAN spokesperson, Inês de Sousa Real, does not participate in Chega’s “media show off”.
