The President of the Republic addresses the European Parliament today after the meeting with Metsola

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, will talk about the problems of the European Union (EU) on Tuesday at an official meeting in the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg, after a meeting with the president of the institution. , Robert Metsol.

At 10:45 (local time, minus one hour in Lisbon), Marcelo Rebelo de Souza is due to arrive at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where he will sign the book of honor and meet with Roberta Metsola, after which he will speak in parliament. semicycle.

The Portuguese head of state will then travel to the headquarters of the Council of Europe, where he will meet with the Secretary General of the institution, Maria Pejčinović Burić, and have lunch with the Portuguese officials of the European Parliament.

Upon his arrival in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said that in his speech on Wednesday at the European half-cycle, he will analyze the “major challenges” of the EU, addressing “all Portuguese sovereign bodies”, including the government.

The visit to Strasbourg comes at a time of disagreement between the head of state and the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, regarding the immutability of the Minister of Infrastructure, Joao Galamba, in the government.

Last Thursday, in an address to the country, the President of the Republic promised that he would be “even more attentive and more involved in daily life” to prevent conflict factors that worsen institutions and “avoid the use of exclusive powers.”

The head of state called his disagreement with the Prime Minister’s decision to keep Joao Galamba as Minister of Infrastructure “a fundamental difference” and considered that this decision by António Costa affects “the trust, reliability, authority of the minister, the government and the state.”