Appointments

António Costa of Portugal Will Be The Next President of The European Council

António Costa of Portugal Will Be The Next President of The European Council

By - 29 Jun 2024 04:01 PM

Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, has been formally appointed to the position of President of the European Council, which is the second-highest position in the European Union.Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, has been formally appointed to the position of President of the European Council, which is the second-highest position in the European Union. The European Commission has reappointed Ursula Von der Leyen to a second term in office.An historic time for the European Union (EU) and Portugal António Luís Santos da Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, was elected as the President of the European Council in Brussels, marking a momentous event for both the EU and Portugal. As the first Portuguese leader to occupy this role, his accession represents a major turning point in European politics. Although it was "almost" a given, the appointment wasn't officially announced until the leaders' summit in Brussels.Antonio Costa is a person. Born in 1961, António Costa was a lawyer who later entered politics. He had a strong socialist background and belonged to Portugal's Socialist Party, or Partido Socialista.

He implemented programs to rebuild Lisbon and Portugal as a whole while serving as prime minister. Because of his leadership style, which blends pragmatism and a dedication to social justice, he is well-liked both domestically and globally.referred to as Gandhi of Lisbon He held several terms as a Portuguese cabinet minister before rising to the position of prime minister. He also held the office of vice president of the European Parliament and mayor of Lisbon. Known as the “Gandhi of Lisbon” for his modest way of life and Indian ancestry, the Indian President awarded him the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2017. In addition, he possesses an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card.

What does the EU stand to gain from his presidency? Interestingly, Costa's name wasn't on the list at first. Despite not being on the original list of candidates, the council decided to choose him, indicating both Portugal's increasing power within the EU and its readiness to explore unorthodox solutions. He sees it as a powerful symbol of European democracy and solidarity. According to diplomatic sources, the decision was taken at a European Council meeting in Brussels, where EU leaders also proposed that Ursula von der Leyen be appointed to chair the European Commission for a second term.

 

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