Opposition leader is bullish on European Union and U.S. ties

Portuguese political opposition leader José Manuel Durao Barroso has little time for those among his fellow Europeans who chortled and criticized the U.S. electoral system in the Florida recount affair, and argues that they could learn from the way the Americans managed to put the disagreement behind them once it was settled.

"The important thing to remember is that when it was all over, everyone united behind the winner and that was a beautiful lesson in democracy for Europeans," the head of the conservative Social Democratic Party, or PSD, says.

"I lived in the United States for seven years and I know American society very well. Of course it is not perfect, but I am totally against the anti-American attitudes fashionable in some European circles," he explains. "Citizen´s rights come first in America and this is another valuable lesson we can learn from the United States."

Opinion polls indicate that Mr. Durao Barroso is gaining popularity among voters and political pundits say that if the PSD and the rightist Popular Party can form a solid alliance, they could win the next general elections which will take place in 2003.

Mr. Durao Barroso fully supports Portugal being in line with the rest of its European Union partners and the benefits it has enjoyed from membership.

"Since joining the EU in 1986, our country has seen its growth per capita go from 50 percent of the union´s average to 78 percent and I believe our goal should be to reach 100 percent of that EU average as quickly as possible," he argues.

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