José Coelho / Lusa
António Costa and Pedro Nuno Santos in 2020, when they were, respectively, Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Housing
The president of the European Council, António Costa, will not support Pedro Nuno Santos in the PS’s election campaign for legislatures, for having established as a rule for his duties a “duty of neutrality”.
Official source of António Costa’s office told Lusa on Wednesday that, five months ago, when he took office as leader of the institution that brings together the heads of state and government of the European Union, António Costa “established as a rule that, in respect for your duty to neutrality Regarding the political life of the Member States, it should not participate in any activities of national political parties. ”
“For this reason, the President of the European Council has not participated or participate in any events of the Portuguese election campaign”, Explained the same source to Lusa.
Certain is that the previous Portuguese Prime Minister Voting in Lisbon On election day, May 18, he said.
When the electoral campaign for legislatures in Portugal is already on the fourth day, the official source of the Cabinet of the President of the European Council also said that, in recent months, António Costa also “declined several invitations to participate in party events in countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.”
Is Costa required to distance yourself?
Last December, António Costa began his two and a half year term at the head of the European Council, being the first socialist and the first Portuguese in this position.
According to the EU treaties, the president of the European Council does not perform any function at the national level. However, This does not prevent him from exercising rights as the freedom of expression.
António Costa has decided to remain true to his “neutrality” rule itself.
Those who assume this position are responsible for charging the meetings of the European Council, to ensure the preparation and continuity of their work in cooperation with the Commission, to help facilitate consensus, provide information to the European Parliament and ensure the external representation of the European Union at the level of heads of state or government.
The position became permanent and full time after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, since until then the European Council was an informal instance and the position of president of the European Council was not official.
