Gaye Davis
FREEDOM Front member Tom Langley’s nomination as South Africa’s ambassador to Portugal has sparked frantic behind-the-scenes lobbying in a bid to stop his
Sources told the Weekly Mail & Guardian there was deep concern in Portugal over the move to post Langley, a former National Party and Conservative Party MP, to the country. People are worried that his links to the old South African regime will evoke Portugal’s own past under a fascist dictatorship which closely collaborated with the National Party.
The sources said the Portuguese government, reluctant to take the drastic step of refusing to issue an agreement (called an agrement) to host Langley, was employing various methods to “quietly communicate” its view that his posting would be unacceptable.
“Langley is not a career diplomat. This is a political appointment. He would be the first ambassador to Portugal chosen by the democratically elected government of national unity. It is being described as the most complicated situation in Portugal’s diplomatic
If Portugal were to deny its agrement it would cause a diplomatic incident. It would also raise the question of where to place Langley without evoking similar
The rightwing Lisbon weekly reported last month that Langley had visited the capital to counter the lobby against his appointment. Langley yesterday said this was “absolute trash. I’ve never been to Lisbon and wouldn’t stoop so low as to do something like that.”
He said his appointment was in the hands of the ministry and department of foreign affairs. “I haven’t a thing to say about it.” An NP member for 17 years before joining the CP, he came out in support of the Freedom Front shortly before last year’s elections. While not an FF office-bearer he is in regular contact with the party.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Jacques Malan referred queries to the Office of the President. President Mandela’s spokesman Parks Mankahlana could not be reached for comment. The Portuguese embassy referred queries to Portugal’s foreign ministry. The WM&G was unable to contact the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, but Portguese newspaper reports carry foreign ministry spokesmen dismissing speculation that the agrement has been refused.