Marcelo & Costa

There is a genuine admiration between Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and António Costa. From their university days to the present day, this relationship of mutual admiration has grown stronger, despite their notable differences. But the tragedies of June and October marked their relationship in an implacable way. There is a clear before and after the fires, and nothing seems to erase this from the memory of either politician. This book is not a biography, nor is it an exhaustive account of the political careers of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and António Costa.

Instead, it is a collection of episodes spread across time in which the two figures cross paths. From their university days, when they met and interacted as professor and student, through the 1989 local elections, in which Marcelo faced Jorge Sampaio, whose campaign manager was António Costa. From the times they crossed paths in the corridors of power, one as the leader of the PSD and the other as Secretary of State and Minister.

From the 2015 legislative elections to the 2016 presidential elections. From the backstage of the initial "honeymoon" phase to the intricacies of the breakdown in their relationship, caused by the tragedy of the 2017 fires.