The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, called a press conference in Belém this Monday to discuss the case of the Portuguese-Brazilian twins, a case that began in 2019 and began with an email that his son Nuno Rebelo de Sousa sent him elements that, according to him, were sent this Monday to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR).
Marcelo claims that on November 4 he was first asked “whether there had been any interference in the complex treatment of the twins at the Santa Maria Hospital.”
The President of the Republic states that initially he “did not remember in the least that it all started with a letter from Dr. Nuno Rebelo de Sousa.” [filho do Chefe de Estado] nor the order that led to this.” He adds that he was aware “that there was no further intervention in this matter.”
The Portuguese-Brazilian twinning process lasted ten days, from 21 to 31 October 2019, coinciding with the formation of the constitutional government.
He adds that a few days ago information appeared that the Prosecutor General’s Office had opened an investigation against persons unknown in this matter, saying that he was “able to say that it was possible to investigate the facts that happened four years ago.” back”.
Marcelo admitted that he received an email from his son
He explains that his son, Nuno Rebelo de Sousa, sent him an email saying that a group of friends from the twins’ family had gotten together and were “trying to treat them in Portugal.” After this, the documentation was sent to the Santa Maria Hospital, but they did not receive a response.
Maria João Ruela, Social Adviser, contacted the Santa Maria Hospital on October 23 and received the following response: “The process has been received, cases of the same type are being analyzed. Options are limited and dependent on hospital medical decisions.” hospital and Infarmed,” Marcelo said.
Nuno Rebelo de Sousa then approached the head of the civil house, who confirmed the message received from the consultant and told him that “priority is given to cases being treated in Portuguese hospitals, so they have not yet been contacted. First of all, SNS.” covers situations involving people living in Portugal. Portuguese in foreign countries have the right to treatment in the health systems of the countries in which they live.”
According to the head of state, “it is obvious that the President of the Portuguese Republic, faced with a citizen’s request, like any other, gives the most neutral order and the same as he gave in ‘n’ cases”, without there being “intervention of the President of the Republic in connection with with the fact that he is a son or not a son.”
“There is no favoritism at all”
Having said this, he states that “there is no fact that implies the slightest favoritism on the part of anyone,” adding that he treated him like another citizen: “I treated him like that. I sent it to whoever I was supposed to send it to.” “.
He explains that the role of the President of the Republic is to “serve and listen as an ombudsman for the people who approach him with requests” and that he hopes his son “does not in any way refer to my name or relationship status with me.” ” He adds that he assumes this did not happen, but if it were proven, “it would be completely unacceptable.”
“I want to give those who investigate all the freedom to do so, and whoever it is cannot invoke my name,” Marcelo Rebelo de Souza finally says.