“The Seven Lives of Antonio Costa” This week's title visao, On its front page, the former Portuguese leader appears as a young man raising his fist against the background of a European flag, while it is strongly expected that he will assume the presidency of the European Council instead of the Belgian Charles Michel. “After seeing his absolute majority collapse with Operation Influencer, the former prime minister is on the verge of becoming one of the most influential figures in Europe.” Announces weekly.
And in its pages, Vision follows a long career The person who became a socialist at the age of fourteen and proposed A “Political and personal image” Who is this “skillful negotiator” :
“Deputy in 1991, Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1995, Minister in 1999, Member of Parliament in 2004, Mayor of Lisbon in 2007, Leader of the Socialist Party in 2014, Prime Minister in 2015, who won the second absolute majority in the history of his left in 2022, will be expelled in 2024 after… A judicial investigation, before the day is reborn from the ashes?”
Aura and prestige
The investigation that prompted his resignation has since fizzled out. If serious doubts are dispelled, Costa will still be prosecuted for evasion (failing to carry out the duties of his office). Despite these legal problems, the 58-year-old, a native of Lisbon, whose parents are from Goa, a former Portuguese colony in India, remains the most likely candidate to accompany the European Council. The new Portuguese president and prime minister, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Luis Montenegro, both from the right, have already given him their support.
On the European scene, with the support of Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron, Costa “Recognized by peers.” Especially because he led the country for eight and a half years – an extremely rare long period among his fellow socialists on the continent.
“The aura of a person who is proud to have it “The page of austerity has been turned” It remained intact and gave it a certain status in Europe. Why ? Because he always respected the rules of the game, by reducing the deficit and debt, and showing his budget genius.”
“Puzzling is a favorite pastime for a man who has walked the corridors of Brussels for decades and who has spent the last three years finding his way.” The magazine also indicates that this reaches the highest authorities. Costa is scheduled to participate in the next European summit on June 27-28. If he is appointed, he will join the list of Portuguese who have headed international institutions, such as José Manuel Barroso (European Commission), Mario Centeno (Eurogroup), or even António Guterres (United Nations).
