Foreign minister promises “reformist spirit” despite unclear future

Portugal’s foreign minister promised on Wednesday that the government would keep its accounts in order, and “more than just in order, fair”, and maintain its “reformist spirit” despite the uncertain international situation.

“The uncertainties of the international situation will always leave this government’s reformist spirit strong and undiminished. It is because we know that there are significant challenges and opportunities on the external front that we must strengthen and redouble our efforts and commitment on the internal front”, said Paulo Rangel in his closing speech on the debate on the Programme of the 25th Constitutional Government in parliament.

The minister defended one of the government’s priorities in particular: “We are going to reform the state, streamline it. Rather than a state that lacks tone and agility, we want a strong and elegant state, an athletic state, so to speak”, he said.

Rangel said that the government’s priorities would be achieved through a balanced budget and addressed the sole candidate for the leadership of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, in particular.

“We will do it with good accounts and with accurate accounts. We will refer to them as fair accounts, emphasising equity rather than the biased terminology of our predecessors. Because they are correct, and they remain mindful. They are fair: they keep their eyes open to the concrete needs of the people and the welfare state”, he argued.

On the international situation, the minister considered that “Portugal and the world are experiencing the most complex geopolitical situation since World War II.”

“The new conflict between Israel and Iran carries serious and multiple geopolitical risks. We must ensure that all sides should exercise maximum restraint and return to negotiations to prevent Iran’s military nuclear programme, which we have always condemned and which in itself constitutes a threat to the entire Middle East, to the existence of Israel and to the world in general”, he stressed.

On the other hand, he considered that this conflict “keeps the focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, maintaining “all political, military and financial solidarity”.

“It should also highlight the terrible humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, where Israel enforces an intolerable blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid”, he said.

On this conflict, he said that the government will continue “to support a balanced response in Gaza and a peaceful approach in the West Bank, to prioritise other exports rather than arms or military equipment to Israel and to vote in favour of all UN resolutions in favour of the two-state solution and the self-determination of Palestine, including its entry as a full member of the UN”.

“We will continue consultations with our partners on recognition, looking forward to the conference that France and Saudi Arabia are organising; the event will begin at a later date, and we expect significant progress”, he stressed.