By being late for an important meeting in Macau, Portugal’s deputy Prime Minister has been slated by the local press.
The Portuguese language newspaper Hoje Macau rated his two hour delay as "unspeakable" after a meeting with the Portuguese community alongside important Chinese political and business figures.
The local press reported that the Chinese consider the delay "offensive and one that shows a lack of consideration."
The meeting, organised by the Portuguse Consulate in Macau, was delayed by a full two hours until "Paulo Portas arrived late. He did not explain why, nor did he apologise and explain his lateness to anyone attending,” according to a blistering attack in Hoje Macau.
Also, according to the newspaper, when Portas did turn up "virtually all the ethnic Chinese guests had already left, their way of expressing their dislike of the situation."
"The only Chinese remaining in the room were a few people from the Liaison Office of the People's Republic of China, and Cao Guangjing chairman of the China Three Gorges company that recently acquired a majority stake in EDP," the rest had gone.
The newspaper added that Paulo Portas’ attitude makes the job of the Portuguese consul, Vitor Sereno, harder when Portas should have been helping to project the good name of Portugal."
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a statement to explain why Portas was delayed - a ferry was running late - which is an acceptable excuse but what seemed to be unacceptable was the refusal by the former Foreign Minsiter to offer any sort of apology.
"It is therefore without foundation that the deputy prime minister would deliberately cause some a delay in arriving at the reception in honor of the Portuguese community."
Chinese investment in Portugal has increased significantly in recent years with the purchase, among others, of EDP and REN in the power supply and distribution sector. There has also been a cooling off from the initial honeymoon period as China Three Gorges decided not to invest in the alternative energy sector in Portugal as it originally had suggested it would.
Portas later complained that he had been the victim of gossip over his delayed appearance in Macau. Citing ‘meanness and lies’ on his return to Lisbon the deputy PM hit back at coverage of his faux pas saying he had been out there batting for Portugal and all the press could do was focus on his one error.
"I find it unacceptable slander,” and that the room was “full of guests, including media and local Portuguese,” when he arrived. This contradicts the newspaper report.
"I made an official trip to Macau for a day and a half, had 15 meetings, brought results for Portugal, there are more Portuguese products that will be exported, there are more Chinese investments in our country, we dealt with a number of issues with a number of countries and yet I was a victim of slander that has no foundation. What is a lie is a lie, what is unfair is unfair," he whined.
Gates also said the meetings showed the Chinese were interested in investing in Portugal’s gambling sector, and the tourism industry where they have detected the greatest growth potential in the near future.
The Portas statement displays yet again his unsuitability for the high office that he obtained by threats to destroy the coalition.
