SIC News Interview
Augusto Santos Silva did not exclude himself from the race for the Presidency of the Republic, but he says that by January 2026 “a lot of water will flow under the pyesterdays”. In an interview with SIC Notícias, he also analyzed the challenges of António Costa as the new President of the European Council.
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos Silva, was the guest of the SIC Notícias Evening Editionwhere he spoke about the political crisis in France, António Costa’s debut as President of the European Council and the possibility of entering the race for the Presidency of the Republic.
About fall of the French governmentAugusto Santos Silva attributed responsibility to President Emmanuel Macron, criticizing the choice of a government supported by minority forces in the National Assembly.
“Macron appointed a government without a solid foundation, from the fourth or fifth most voted party, ignoring the parliamentary composition and placing himself in the hands of the extreme right. Whoever trusts the extreme right, sooner or later, regrets it”, he stressed.
For Santos Silva, the solution is to appoint a new prime minister who brings together support between liberals and the left and that avoids extreme polarization that could lead France into an even deeper crisis.
Asked about António Costa’s first days as President of the European CouncilAugusto Santos Silva highlighted the qualities of the former Portuguese prime minister, including his “political experience, common sense and institutional sense”. He mentioned that Costa will play an important role in bringing a southern European perspective – with greater attention to Latin America and Africa – while the EU remains focused on the east.
“The challenges are enormous, but António Costa has already demonstrated the ability to take initiatives with political significance, such as starting his mandate in Kiev and reaffirming the EU’s support for Ukraine,” he said.
Still on international politics, Santos Silva analyzed Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for Ukraine to join NATO in exchange for a freeze on the conflict with Russia. He said the idea would be “a very dangerous step” as it would represent a military escalation. He also mentioned the need for dialogue with the US, including the future Trump administration.
About a possible candidacy for Presidency of the Republic in 2026Augusto Santos Silva did not rule out the possibility, but avoided committing himself. He argued that the public debate should first focus on presidential competencies and the strategic vision for the position before discussing names.
“I’m not excluding myself from anything, as I’ve already said. Between December 2024 and January 2026, a lot of water will flow under the bridges”, he reiterated.
