By early next week, Goa may not be able to boast of any politician of Goan origin holding a high post in Europe. Antonio Costa, resigned as Portuguese Prime Minister in November 2023, but continues till March 10, when Portugal goes to the polls to elect a new government.
Costa has not contested the election, so he won’t be back at the Palacio Sao Bento, even if his party makes it.
Costa’s exit has also drawn little interest in Goa to the election in Portugal. There is not much for Goans to follow as he is no longer a contender.
Prime Minister since November 2015, Costa had already become quite popular in Goa when he was Mayor of Lisbon, from August 2007 to April 2015, and his taking over the reins of the Portuguese government had been greeted with cheer in Goa.
It was perhaps the first time that a government in Portugal had three ministers of Goan origin and perhaps also the last.
The highlight of his prime ministership, at least where Goa is concerned, came in his second government when besides him, there were two others of Goan origin who were members of his cabinet.
These were Goa-born Nelson Souza who was the Planning Minister, and João Leão of Goan origin who was the Finance Minister.
It was perhaps the first time that a government in Portugal had three ministers of Goan origin and perhaps also the last. Neither found a place in the third Costa cabinet.
Incidentally, his third term at the helm of the Portuguese government was rather rocky, for despite having led the Socialist Party to an absolute majority, he faced successive crises with over ten ministers and secretaries of state quitting.
This led to calls from the opposition for mid-term polls. The resignation did come and that is why the polls in Portugal this Sunday, March 10.
Born in Lisbon on July 17, 1961, Antonio Costa is the son of Goan writer, Orlando da Costa, best known for his book Signo de Ira (Sign of Ire), of Margao.
He was the first person of Goan origin to be elected prime minister of a European country.
Before him, another Costa, Alfredo da Costa, also from Margao, had briefly held the position of Prime Minister of Portugal, but he had been appointed by the president, and had not led a party to victory, as has Antonio Costa.
This, however, need not be the end of the political road for Costa. Months before he resigned over the corruption investigation, Portuguese media was already speculating whether he would relinquish charge as prime minister and go to Brussels to take up the position of European Union Council president.
At that time, Costa had retorted saying he would ‘not accept a mission that jeopardises stability in Portugal’ and ‘would I ever risk the stability I worked so hard to achieve?’
The situation changed with his resignation coming on an unrelated issue. So post March 10 or thereabouts, depending on when a new government is formed, Costa will be free of his duties in Lisbon.
Interestingly, as per media reports, Costa had been made the offer of EU Council president in 2019, but heading a coalition government in Lisbon, he had turned it down.
This is probably not the last we will hear of Antonio Costa. This June, he may just be back in the news.
So, even as Portugal says adeus to Antonio Costa, Europe may just be waiting to welcome him. It is a possibility that cannot be set aside, for there is still time for that political run, though that speculation has died down in recent months.
