Luis Montenegro is silent about reparations to former colonies and is calm about Marcelo’s assessments of him

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro refused this Sunday to comment on the issue of reparations for Portugal’s colonial past, citing a government statement, and said that he had calmly listened to Marcelo’s assessments of him.

Later, at the beginning of the closure of the European University of Curia (Aveiro), Montenegro again sent further clarification on the topic of reparations to the statement when asked whether the President of the Republic had created a problem for the government.

“No, the government has already had the opportunity to clarify. There is a statement that sets out the entire position of the government,” he said.

Amid greetings to several guests, including former PSD leader Manuel Ferreira Leite, the prime minister was also asked whether the media would listen to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s remarks about him.

“They don’t even have to listen,” he said.

Later, faced with persistent questions about how he took these statements, he simply said: “Completely normal and calm,” before entering the hall where the presentation of AD’s candidates for the European Championships would take place.

In a meeting with reporters, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa associated Luis Montenegro with rural characteristics, saying that the prime minister “comes from a deep, urban, urban country with rural behavior.”

Earlier, on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony in Esposende city park, Montenegro also chose not to respond to the topic of reparations to former colonies, citing a government statement published on Saturday.

Regarding the intention of the President of the Assembly of the Republic to hear the Prosecutor General of the Republic, Montenegro only stated that “this is a matter for parliament.”

In a statement released on Saturday, the government said “there was and is not in question any process or program of concrete action to” make reparations for Portugal’s colonial past, and said it would be guided by “the same line.” like previous leaders.

“With regard to 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. What is at stake and not at stake is any process or program of specific action for this purpose,” the statement said.

Also on Friday, the President of the Republic said Portugal must lead the process of accepting and addressing the consequences of the period of colonialism, and offered as an example debt forgiveness, cooperation and financing, which have already been established, he said.