Miguel Morgado, a former political adviser to Pedro Passos Coelho, a former PSD deputy and founder of Movement 5.7, on Sunday accused the government of contradicting itself by aligning itself with Hungary and Poland against the defense of the rule of law. Miguel Morgado considers that António Costa's executive is failing in his attempt to be “the first wall against fascism” and says that supporting Hungary and Poland is “worse” than negotiating with Chega.
“Together to be the first wall against fascism, as they always proclaimed. A few days ago Carlos César and Costa showed Rui Rio and the PSD that they would not tolerate fascism here or in Europe. And they would never negotiate anything with Chega. Worse than that? Difficult ”, wrote Miguel Morgado, on Twitter.
At issue is a news item from the newspaper “Público” this Sunday that reports that António Costa will have “played” alongside Poland and Hungary, being “very critical”, in the preparatory meetings of the European Council (whose minutes are not disclosed) in relation to the rule of law safeguard mechanism, as a condition for the Member States of the European Union to have access to funds destined for the recovery of the post-Covid European bloc.
The charges were made by Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski. Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs guarantees, however, that respect for the rule of law "has always been a red line" for the Government of António Costa and denies that Portugal has abandoned that position, as suggested by Witold Waszczykowski.
According to the “Público” investigation, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Croatia also expressed doubts and criticized the initiative to make European funds conditional on the rule of law.
Together to be the first wall against fascism, as they always proclaimed. A few days ago Carlos César and Costa showed Rui Rio and the PSD that they would not tolerate fascism here or in Europe. And they would never negotiate anything with Chega.
Worse than that? Difficult. https://t.co/4Q5T70r7G7- Miguel Morgado (@mfmorgado) November 29
In response to a comment by the also social democrat Miguel Poiares Maduro, who described the situation as a “mystification”, as the prime minister “surely knows that the process under Article 7 has no chance because both Poland and Hungary can veto possible sanctions ”, Miguel Morgado also accused the Government of wanting to“ justify the unjustifiable ”.
“It is irrelevant whether he knows or not. It is the official spin to justify the unjustifiable, especially after years of overt rhetoric. It is all that matters to know ”, he wrote.
It is irrelevant whether he knows or not. It is the official spin to justify the unjustifiable, especially after years of outstanding rhetoric.
That's all that matters. https://t.co/b9LAqqkzAL- Miguel Morgado (@mfmorgado) November 29
The approval of the EU budget for 2021-2027 (1,08 billion euros) and the Post-pandemic Recovery Fund (750 billion) is blocked by Hungary and Poland, who disagree with the conditionality in accessing Community funds to respect for the rule of law.
Without the strength to veto the rule of law mechanism (which only needs a qualified majority to pass), Hungary and Poland then vetoed the European Union's own resources (which need unanimity), which led to the blocking of all the process. The JE knows, however, that European Commission and the European Parliament are not willing to give in to pressure from Hungary and Poland (supported by Slovenia).
