António Costa, who is prime minister thanks only to agreements signed with far-left parties after the 2015 general election, given that his party lacks a majority in parliament, made the comments in a speech to Socialist MPs in Coimbra.

Prominent Communist and Left Bloc figures had expressed fears that the Socialist Party might move closer to the centre-right Social Democratic Party, which recently elected a new leader, Rui Rio, who has repeatedly said he is open to reaching policy agreements with Costa’s Socialists.

In his comments in Coimbra, Costa sought to clarify the situation and reassure his allies.

“In the first place, when you’re on the right road, there’s only one thing to do: not change road,” he said. “When you’re in good company, what do you do? You don’t change company.”