The President of the Republic considers that 2024 will be an even more decisive year than 2023 and called for the Portuguese to participate in electoral acts, highlighting that the country will be whatever voters want.
These positions were conveyed by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in his traditional New Year's message, in a situation of political crisis, with the Government in management and early legislative elections scheduled for March 10th.
In his seventh New Year's message - he did not deliver it in 2021 because he was a re-candidate in that year's presidential elections -, broadcast live from the Sala das Bicas of the Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon, the head of state alluded to António's resignation Coast.
«It was clear that, after the legitimate personal decision to leave office by someone who was the second longest serving head of government in a democracy and the longest in this century, we should all be attentive and motivated for the March elections, to understand how the immediate time in Portugal, both in the evaluation and in the choice», declared the President of the Republic.
For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, «2023 ended with more and more difficult challenges than those it had started with».
«But democracy is never afraid to give the people their say and in this it distinguishes itself from dictatorship. Portuguese, 2024 will largely be what voters, in democracy, want it to be. In Portugal, in March; in Europe, in June; in the greatest power in the world, in November; and before that, in February, in the Azores. A year, after all, even more decisive than the year 2023», warned the head of state.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pointed out that everyone wants this year to be “different from 2020 and 2021, with the pandemic, and 2022 and 2023 with the wars”.
“In other words, it may finally be of greater hope in the world, of greater hope in Europe, and also therefore of greater hope among us”, he added.
Previously, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pointed out that in Portugal, in the last year, «it became clear that correct accounts, greater growth and employment, people's qualifications and investment and exports are essential».
«But it was also clear that growth without social justice, that is, without reducing poverty and inequalities between people and territories, is not sustainable. It was clear that effective access to health, education, housing and social solidarity is a key element for social justice and growth. It was clear that Public Administration and justice can make a difference in these years when we have unrepeatable and urgently needed European funds,” he added.
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