Rio leaves parliament, receives thanks from Santos Silva and long applause

President of the Assembly of the Republic Augusto Santos Silva this Wednesday thanked Rui Rio for the service rendered to the country throughout his “unique political career” and gave a long applause to the MP who stepped down from his mandate.

Augusto Santos Silva left these words of gratitude after the deputies approved at the beginning of today’s plenary session the opinion on the resignation of Rui Rio from the mandate of the MP of the PSD, who is no longer in Parliament.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say how much the Assembly of the Republic is indebted to Mr. Rui Rio,” praised the President of the Assembly of the Republic.

Rio, according to socialist Santos Silva, had a “unique political career” as an MP, mayor of Porto and leader of the PSD.

“I wanted to say on my own behalf and, I think, on behalf of everyone, thank you very much for the service you have rendered to the country,” he praised.

The former leader of the SDP was followed by a long standing ovation from the deputies, despite the fact that he was not at the plenary session.

Rui Rio marked the end of his duties as deputy to the Assembly of the Republic on Tuesday, saying he had completed a “phase” in his life.

The former leader of the PSD, elected by the Porto circle, will be replaced by António Cunha of Peñafiel, who is 15th on the list and was a member of the Assembly of the Republic in the previous legislature.

Paulo Mota Pinto asked to be suspended for five months and was replaced by João Carlos Barreiras Duarte, who was once deputy.

Today’s plenary session also approved the resumption of the functions of Marta Temido, António Lacerda Sales and Fatima Fonseca, the former leadership team of the Ministry of Health, as PS deputies in the Assembly of the Republic.