The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said this Sunday that he is watching “attentively” what is happening in the legislative elections in France, with no final results yet, and believes that “what the people decide is well decided.”
“What the people decide is well decided,” the Portuguese head of state said, answering a question from journalists about whether he was surprised by the forecasts that the left-wing coalition would win the second round of the French legislative elections.
In Beja, near the cathedral, where he attended the episcopal consecration of the new bishop of the Alentejo diocese, the president of the republic told journalists that he had “great difficulties commenting” on the elections in France, since he did not have information.
“I just attended a three-hour ceremony, so I don’t have any elements,” he said.
Confronted with journalists’ claims that French President Emmanuel Macron prefers to comment on the elections only on Monday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed: “If the French president does not know what to say, imagine the Portuguese president about what a place in a friendly country is doing.”
“That’s why I’m following what’s happening closely, and this is very important for Europe. Let’s wait for the final results and then, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I’ll speak,” he limited himself to adding.
According to forecasts published after the polls closed, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front could have between 172 and 215 MPs, while the presidential bloc of Emmanuel Macron could have between 150 and 180 seats, ahead of the far-right National Union party with between 115 and 155 elected MPs.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa attended today the episcopal consecration of the new Bishop of Beja, D. Fernando Paiva, whose principal ordination was the Archbishop of Evora, Francisco Senra Coelho, and was attended by several bishops from Portugal, the Apostolic Nuncio and clergy representatives from the dioceses of Setubal, Beja and others.
Fernando Paiva, 61, previously one of the vicars general of the Diocese of Setubal, was appointed the 15th Bishop of Beja on March 21, succeeding D. João Marcos.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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