Inauguration in Mozambique: did Portugal get it right?
After a controversial election which the opposition claims was rigged, Portugal, the former colonial power, sent its foreign minister rather than its president to the swearing-in ceremony of the new president of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo. Protests against Chapo's election have been ongoing for months and more than 300 people have died in clashes with security forces, according to reports by civil society organisations.
Portugal should have shown more respect
Correio da Manhã criticises the Portuguese government's decision:
“Mozambique is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) with a large Portuguese community which is of great importance to many companies. Regardless of any domestic policy issues, Portugal should be represented by its head of state because relations between the states are more important than the current situation. If the CPLP is to be a fundamental axis of foreign policy, Portugal cannot treat the inauguration of the President of Mozambique with less respect than the funeral of Jimmy Carter.”
Don't legimise a brutal ruler
Portugal would have been better advised not to send any representative at all to the inauguration of the controversial president, counters Diário de Notícias:
“The protection of Portuguese interests in Mozambique makes it inadvisable for Portugal's authorities to contribute to the legitimisation of blatant electoral fraud by those who have repeatedly shown themselves incapable of looking after the public interest and the well-being of the people of Mozambique, and who do not shy away from using police repression and state violence to maintain their grip on power.”