Hometown || Former Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates – famous for resigning in 2011 just as Portugal reached a climax of financial turmoil – is to be honoured by his hometown of Covilhã.
Speaking to Lusa news agency, Covilhã mayor Vítor Pereira said he would be awarding Sócrates with a municipal merit gold medal and the keys to the town during municipal day celebrations on October 20.
“It’s more than a fair distinction for José Sócrates’ efforts to defend Covilhã throughout his career. Whether as an MP, a secretary of state, a minister or prime minister, he always looked out for Covilhã, Cova da Beira and the whole region,” the mayor explained.
Ignoring the fact that many blame Sócrates for Portugal’s economic woes, Pereira stressed that the socialist “worked hard” to build “significant infrastructures” in the region, particularly the Faculty of Science and Health at the Beira Interior University and the A23 highway.
“Covilhã has every right to be thankful to Sócrates,” he insisted.
Lusa adds that Sócrates has accepted the award but has not confirmed whether he can attend the celebrations, because of his busy diary.
