Businessman, Alexandre Soares dos Santos said that hates Chinese investment in Portugal, and reckons all-in-all that it does not do much for the country.
The respected businessman and former boss of Jerónimo Martins decided that he hates Chinese investment here as it brings no new management and no new knowledge.
Alexandre Soares dos Santos was speaking at the conference ‘Portugal Examined' on the theme of 'Three generations, three views of the country,' organised by Exame magazine in partnership with Banco Popular.
At the end of the debate, the businessman declined to speak to reporters, saying he was late for an event in Aveiro and was then off for a Chinese.
During his speech and back on message, Alexandre Soares dos Santos argued that "the President should be obliged to summon the political parties to set a plan for 10 or 15 years" for the country.
This may be beyond the President’s mental capabilities but should indeed be on Cavaco Silva’s agenda despite his no doubt painful recollection of the fudge he made of calming the tension created by Paulo Portas who threw all available toys from his pram to screw a better deal from Prime Minister Passos Coelho by threatening to walk away from the fragile ruling coalition.
President Cavaco Silva's fatherly advice to 'calm down a be friends' resulted in the upstart Portas increasing dramatically his influence and power base by forcing the creation of the post of deputy PM, which he then filled and having his acolytes appointed to top political positions.
Alexandre Soares dos Santos was right when he observed that "We walk permanently into change without knowing where we want to go," while considering that is now is more urgent than ever that there is a political agreement between the main parties in order successfully to run the country.
If dos santos is calling for a coalition, there already is one. If he is calling for an all party coalition then the public might spot that the country is not at war and a democracy of one party has been tried here before.
Comments
he is like all his bretheren , from the 5 families that run and own the big shops in portugal , in control of how the people spend their money...and doesnt like the competition , another shock horror that they dont like open market competition in portugal.
Those like him are the reason why it takes so long to get Ikea , happy to kill off the small retailer while using them as an attack on free market as an excuse to keep the status quo.
Impressive for an old boy ! I couldn't manage a whole one !
Dos Santos does bring out, albeit obliquely, that the Portuguese have 'historic bad blood' with the major European countries. Which helps explain Portugal's muddled attitude to the EU.
If the EU says to its member states go straight ahead; Portugal will invariably turn back, go sideways or sit down. Often all at the same time.
The pain coming from all the big names having either invaded Portugal or Portuguese overseas territories over the centuries. Or nibbled at them. Even (ahem, cough) us ... the UK, has been guilty of a small peck 130 years ago.
The land overseas given to the Portuguese by God via a Spanish Pope. But taken away from them by man.
The Chinese do not carry this stigma to the Portuguese. With Macao it was Portugal invading China.
So 40% of all Portugals recent business sales have been to the Chinese.
I could murder a Cod and Chips ! A whole portion; But ... ever ask yourself why so few chippies exist in Portugal ?
Because of THAT PECK !
And how does that help Portugal?
People related to these companies should no longer be regarded as "respected" or listened to. What have they done for the country?