PORTRAIT – The former socialist prime minister, who left the head of the Portuguese government after the opening of an investigation against his collaborators, has a long experience of politics and alliances on the left and right.
To Madrid
He likes 1,000-piece puzzles and, according to a former minister, Lego. Antonio Costa’s talents for assembling unexpected coalitions and building majorities are well-established in Portugal; it remains to be seen how Brussels will welcome the former Socialist prime minister, who resigned when a minister and his chief of staff were accused of corruption by his country’s justice system. He is a strong favourite for the post of president of the European Council. « He is a pragmatist much more than an ideologue, describes André Azevedo, professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University. And this character trait fuels his ability to build alliances and negotiate. »
The most striking demonstration of this quality is the way he came to power. In the 2015 legislative elections, the Socialist Party, which Costa had only controlled for a year, came second, behind the conservative coalition of the incumbent Pedro Passos Coelho.
This article is reserved for subscribers. You have 80% left to discover.
Flash sale
1€ per month for 3 months. Without engagement.
Already subscribed? Log in
