We are witnessing a turning of the tide in Portugal’s economy, says German PM

The German prime minister, Olaf Scholz, has praised the “progressive” political leadership of the Secretary General of the Socialist Party, António Costa, in Portugal and the results of the Portuguese economy, arguing that we are currently witnessing a turning of the tides.

Olaf Scholz was one of the speakers at the commemorative dinner of the 50th anniversary of the PS (Socialist Party) at the Carlos Lopes pavilion in Lisbon on Wednesday evening, which he attended as leader of the German Social Democrats, SPD – a party that was instrumental in supporting the foundation of the PS on 19 April 1973 in Bad Munstereifel, on the outskirts of Bonn.

The German chancellor began by praising António Costa’s reaction when he won an absolute majority in the early parliamentary elections in January 2022.

“He said that an absolute majority is not synonymous with absolute power. What an example of democratic leadership,” he commented, before referring to the first leader of the Portuguese socialists, Mário Soares, and former foreign minister Jaime Gama.

“They believed in what Portugal is currently under António Costa’s leadership. We are witnessing a turning of the tides. The world of the 21st century will undoubtedly be multipolar, with new powers emerging or re-emerging and, at the same time, with a transformation to a digital and climate-neutral world. We should fear nothing if we are willing to embrace the future”, Olaf Scholz maintained.

Next, the German chancellor praised the economic results achieved by Portugal over the past few years, saying they are a consequence “of progressive political leadership”.

“A leadership of a country that embraces the future, that does not see change as a threat, but rather as an opportunity to improve the state of things and to grow. This premise, that the future is open and that we can contribute to its improvement, is what unites us as Social Democrats in Europe and the world,” he added.

In his speech, as he had done hours earlier at his press conference at the prime minister’s official residence in São Bento, Lisbon, the German prime minister condemned the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

This time, however, he also praised the actions of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

“We owe to António Guterres and his commitment the initial lifting of the blockade on Ukraine’s exports,” he pointed out.

He concluded by quoting the historic leader of the German Social Democrats, Willy Brandt: “It is our duty to move on from national egoism to an internal and global European policy which takes responsibility for ensuring that all people, wherever they are, have a humane and dignified existence”,