On the first point, Marques Mendes, in his usual commentary on SIC, stated that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa "went too far", adding that it was a "deeply unfortunate" day for the head of state.

"I think that the President of the Republic had, on the 23rd of this month, at this meeting with the foreign press, perhaps the most unfortunate day of his term to date", he said.

The commentator listed "several reasons", including the "possible compensation or financial reparations to former colonies" suggested by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. "That's where he was most unfortunate and he shouldn't have done what he did. I think everything the President said and did was a mistake", he stressed.

"First of all, let's be direct, there is no dispute between Portugal and its former colonies, neither on this matter nor on any other matter, so common sense dictates that we should not be inventing a problem. Secondly, because this issue, which is so sensitive and delicate, should not be dealt with lightly and simplistically, at a coffee table or dinner with journalists. It requires another sense of being", he stressed.

Thirdly, Marques Marques suggested, "because it is important to bear in mind that this is a very sensitive issue in Portuguese society and that if it is not handled with caution, it is obviously a shock to people, it irritates people, it bothers people. That is not good, it must be avoided".

Montenegro "rural" and Costa "slow"? Marcelo "did wrong"

In addition, the social democrat criticized the "quite inelegant statements" made by the head of state "both in relation to Luís Montenegro, the current Prime Minister, and to António Costa, the former Prime Minister. It does not suit him".

It should be recalled that the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, stated at the same meeting on Tuesday that the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has "rural behavior" and that the former head of government, António Costa, is "slow because he is oriental".

On this subject, and when confronted with the fact that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had already come to explain his statements, Marques Mendes was categorical. "When someone has to start justifying what they say, it is always a bad sign. And the President of the Republic did wrong. He did not have to qualify the current and former Prime Minister in that way, which was also inelegant. Full stop. There is, from my point of view, no reasonable explanation for this", he stressed.

The social democrat considered that it was also "not at all fortunate" that the head of state had revealed that he has turned his back on his son, Nuno Rebelo de Sousa. "This matter of the relationship between father and son is an issue that I think belongs to the family intimacy of each individual and each family. It is not to be dealt with in the public square. It does not suit him either", he accused.

Bugalho? "A young man of unusual political talent"

On the choice of Sebastião Bugalho to lead the AD list for the European elections, Marques Mendes considers that "it is a good choice". "It is a surprise on the one hand, but on the other hand, a good choice", he stressed.

"I have already seen many criticisms and I do not subscribe to most of them because normally what is asked of political leaders?", he asked, answering immediately: "That they choose quality people, that they renew, that they have a spirit of openness and not dependence on the apparatus and that they introduce new blood into political life".

In the social democrat's view, if this is what is asked of leaders, "we cannot then, when leaders fulfill these principles and objectives, be criticizing them". Moreover "Sebastião Bugalho is a young man of unusual political talent and has political ambitions", he concluded.

Leia Também: Reparation to former colonies? "No process was and is not at stake" (Portuguese version)

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