At the end of a cycle of conferences on covid-19, at the headquarters of the União das Misericórdias Portuguesas, in Lisbon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa believed that in connection with the covid-19 pandemic, it was “very important to to be practical from the start. of the truth in the outline of the situation”.
“That helped, it even helped the national spirit that was created, overcoming barriers between the sovereignty bodies and between political, economic and social forces. I think in war it should be exactly the same,” he added.
The head of state expressed “difficult to understand how to equate the reality” of the Russian invasion of Ukraine “first to pretend it is a specific reality and that it is passing quickly, secondly that it has no economic effects, very significant financial and social”.
Without ever referring directly to the government, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa insisted that “at least the margins of these effects” be clarified, which are already visible in energy prices and in the cost of living in general.
Six days before the bill on the 2023 state budget was introduced, the president of the republic said that “there are many who, and for good reasons, defend the balance of the budget” because “those who are not so powerful cannot tolerate this kind of behavior.” Allowed.”
“It is true. But it is also true that it must be admitted that there are social situations which, because of their exceptionality, require monitoring and exceptional decisions and regimes and measures,” defended.
The head of state acknowledged that “this is a very complicated situation”, said the head of state that people suffering the effects of the war expect public decision-makers in this context to “consider a kind of exceptionalism, which was serenely admitted during the pandemic, but which is now harder to admit”.
“This is a very complicated problem, but there is a reality that cannot be avoided, which is: if the news is not good, it must be given,” he stressed.
Source: DN
