In his response, he did not mention slavery, but said Portugal should take "full responsibility" for its past, citing massacres and looting as abuses for which it could "pay the costs". Brazil's Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, demanded "concrete actions" to match these words.

Portugal's government said on Saturday it refuses to initiate any process to pay reparations for atrocities committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, contrary to earlier comments from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Statement from government contradicts stance taken by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who said Portugal should not put issue ‘in a drawer’

The government says it has not initiated any process to that effect.Lisbon is not planning to pay reparations for trans- Atlantic slavery and colonialism, Portugal's government said on Saturday. The statement comes in response to remarks by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Saturday Portugal could use several methods to pay reparations for atrocities committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, such as cancelling the debt of former colonies and providing financing.