Portugal's Socialist Party criticizes appointment of Barroso as Goldman Sachs advisor

An official with Portugal's ruling Socialist party on Saturday criticized the appointment of former European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso as an advisor to U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Ana Catarina Mendes, joint secretary general of Portugal's ruling Socialist party, said Goldman Sachs' employment of Barroso, who served Portugal's prime minister from 2002 to 2004, was "the worst cause of the destruction of social rights in the European union," Portuguese Lusa news Agency has reported.

During the opening of a congress in Lisbon, Mendes said Jose Manuel Barroso was European Commission chief during the worst years of the European project, and his "prize" was being hired by Goldman Sachs.

On Friday, Barroso, who was president of the European Commission from 2004 to 2014, was appointed by Goldman Sachs as non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International, the bank's international arm based in London.

His appointment sparked criticism among Portugal's left-wing parties, with the Left Bloc claiming that "there is no shame among the European elite."
Source:XINHUA