The President of the Republic considered this Sunday, May 7, that citizens realize that their contributions to food banks are not "little charity" and show solidarity even when the economy figures have not yet reached the pockets of the Portuguese.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking to journalists after visiting the Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome (BA), in Alcântara, Lisbon, with the president of the institution, Isabel Jonet, at his side.
Questioned several times about the public disagreement he had with the prime minister about keeping the Minister of Infrastructure in the Government, the head of state refused to make any further comments, repeating the phrase "what is said, is said".
Then, addressing the journalists, he said: «the simple fact that I did not answer your questions should already deserve some reflection on your part, accustomed as you are to the fact that, in the past, I considered it appropriate to respond more often to specific questions» .
“Right now, I don't think it's appropriate. I have nothing to add », she insisted.
For more than 20 minutes, the head of state spoke before about the social and economic situation in Portugal, in particular the most needy population.
"The Portuguese perceive several things, firstly that this is not what is sometimes called charity, because charity is not", he defended, in a clear demarcation in relation to some currents of the political left.
On the contrary, according to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, with contributions to food banks, «it is society that realizes that there are some who have more and others less».
In front of the journalists, the President of the Republic sought to highlight the following point: «even in a situation where large numbers are positive, but day-to-day life is still not as positive as large numbers, the Portuguese make the effort what they are doing about food banks'.
«There are encouraging signs in terms of tourism, foreign investment and exports. Now, we all want the large numbers of the economy to translate into the pockets of more Portuguese people », she stressed.
For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal finds itself in a «slightly strange situation», since the numbers in global terms «are better than in other European countries, in terms of growth, with tourism and exports rising».
«Domestic demand, that is to say what people consume here, despite the many wealthy foreigners living in Portugal more and more, dropped in the first quarter. On the one hand it is good, it means that what comes from outside is contributing to our economy, but what is inside is still waiting for the financial relief that will allow it – not only with social aid, but above all with a reduction price level – to recover the purchasing power of the Portuguese», he maintained.
According to the head of state, in Portugal "there were social problems that were linked", first those resulting from the covid-19 pandemic, to which were added "those resulting from the current brutal price rise, namely of food goods and with housing benefits to double".
"And people do not stretch wages, despite social aid," he added.
On Saturday, the president of the Food Bank Against Hunger (BA) Isabel Jonet told the Lusa agency that by 18 pm that day 00 tonnes of food had been collected, a "positive" balance of the first day of the collection campaign.
BA's new food collection campaign started on Saturday and runs over the weekend, at a time when requests for help have almost tripled compared to last year.
The campaign, which takes place in person in supermarkets across the country and has around 40 volunteers, has the theme “Hope” to help families “face economic and social difficulties”.
In addition to the face-to-face campaign over the weekend, the collection will continue until May 14 through vouchers available in supermarkets or on the online channel www.alimentestaideia.pt
The 21 Food Banks, in partnership with around 2.600 institutions and entities operating in the field, daily distribute food to more than 400 thousand people in Portugal.
According to the president of BA, from the beginning of the year until April 20, the institution received 3.330 new requests for help, which represents an increase of 93% compared to the same period of 2022, when 1.725 requests had arrived.
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