In response to a questionnaire sent by the Lusa agency to candidates for the European elections on June 9, the head of the ND list, Ossanda Líber, stated that the end of the unanimity rule "is an affront to the model" that the party idealizes. "We absolutely disagree. It is an affront to the fair model that we idealize, based on negotiation, consensus and commitments, to move towards a system in which the wills of the small can be steamrolled," he stressed. Regarding whether it would be beneficial for Portugal to have former Prime Minister António Costa as President of the European Council, the ND considered that "it would be highly prejudicial" if he were "yet another federalist voice". "If António Costa as President of the Council [European] is yet another federalist voice in the EU, then it would be highly prejudicial. It is useless to have a Portuguese leading a European institution if that Portuguese decides against our country," he noted. Ossanda Líber also said that none of the names that present themselves as candidates for the presidency of the European Commission "left any kind of guarantee that they would be defenders of the sovereignty of the EU countries". "Regrettably, most of the candidates are in favor of federalism or are, at the very least, passive on the issue," he said. Regarding the expansion of the EU until 2030, the official said that "it will be useless" if the Member States "continue to be dependent on non-Community agendas". "The addition of new Member States at this time will result in the strengthening of these agendas contrary to national and collective interests. However, if any country joins the EU by 2030, it will be those that are already making some progress in the accession processes, such as Albania or North Macedonia," he projected. Rejecting support for the joint issuance of debt to finance European defense, the head of the ND list said that there is already "a problem of excessive public debt in Portugal". He also clarified that the party is against sending Portuguese troops to Ukrainian territory, considering it "unacceptable that Portuguese blood be shed in the agonizing continuation of a war that could have ended in April 2022, with a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia". Regarding European appeals for peace and the possible imposition of sanctions on Israel, Ossanda Líber stated that "this will not happen" because Tel Aviv "has strong supporters in some EU countries". "If there are Member States that are not comfortable with applying sanctions to another country or region, they should not be forced to do so," he said, referring to the end of the unanimity rule, which could mean that Portugal would be "forced by the other 26 countries to cut relations with Brazil or Angola, for example, with all the serious consequences that result from this". The ND also expressed its opposition to the European Pact for Migration and Asylum, saying that "it represents an onerous imposition on countries, and it must be reversed as soon as possible". Regarding the common agricultural policy (CAP), Ossanda Líber stated that "it is not sensible to force a small producer to comply with these standards and then import products from outside the EU", where there is "no control over inspection". Around 373 million European voters are called to vote for the European Parliament between June 6 and 9. In Portugal, the vote is on the 9th to elect 21 deputies. A total of 17 parties and coalitions are running for the elections: AD, PS, Chega, IL, BE, CDU, Livre, PAN, ADN, MAS, Ergue-te, Nova Direita, Volt Portugal, RIR, Nós Cidadãos, MPT and PTP. Read Also: Nova Direita proposes European NATO and nuclear energy production (Portuguese version)