The President of the Republic refuses to comment on party initiatives before the European elections

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, refused this Friday to comment on any proposed government program or party initiatives, saying that the head of state should only make a statement after the European elections.

“I am not going to comment on what, at the moment, in party debates and in parliamentary debates, is the beginning of the legislative branch,” said the President of the Republic, refusing to comment on the measures announced as part of the discussion of the government program led by Luis Montenegro.

For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “dialogue is the foundation and strength of democracy,” and “given the composition of this Assembly of the Republic, it makes even more sense,” however, he stressed, “the president should not speak out about proposals and ideas, proposals, it all depends from the parties and, perhaps, if this is the responsibility of Parliament, then from the Assembly of the Republic.”

Asked whether he would respond in writing to the commission of inquiry into the “case of twins” who were treated at Santa Maria Hospital with a drug costing millions of euros, the president postponed a decision after the European elections scheduled for June 9.

“We are on an election campaign,” he said, recalling that the deadline to submit candidacies for the European elections expires in a few days and confirming that he will not comment on “party initiatives” during the election campaign and the campaign. “.

“If I say that I like some initiative or agree with it, I am campaigning for the party, if I say that I do not like it or that I do not agree, I am campaigning against the party and, therefore, until June 9 I will ” I won’t speak out,” Marcelo told reporters.

The President of the Republic spoke in Santarem on April 25, on the sidelines of the classes he taught this Friday at the Escola Secundária Sá da Bandeira.