The president of the republic said on Wednesday that the celebration of Portugal Day in 2024 will certainly be in Europe, because European elections will be held on June 9 next year, a Sunday, the eve of the holiday.
This option for the European continent, which he considered very likely, was conveyed by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in statements to journalists in Pretoria, after taking stock of his state visit to South Africa, on Tuesday, and at the celebration of Portugal Day with the Portuguese communities living in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
When asked which country was chosen to hold Portugal Day celebrations in 2024, the head of state did not specify, but added that next year’s celebrations “should be in Europe for now”.
“For a very simple reason: Portugal Day next year falls on the day after the European Parliament elections. The European elections are on June 9, 2024 and Portugal Day on the next”noted.
Given this calendar, according to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “it’s impossible [repetir] a scheme similar to this year’s to start outside the European continent”more specifically in South Africa, to later also celebrate the Day of Portugal in Peso da Régua, neighborhood of Vila Real.
“The most natural thing is to be in Europe. I haven’t decided yet, but in Europe it is for sure”he stressed.
The current model of double celebration of June 10, in Portugal and abroad, was launched by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in the year of his inauguration, 2016, in collaboration with the Prime Minister, António Costa.
This time, unlike what happened in previous years, the celebrations of June 10 started abroad, five days before the official date, and will end in Portugal, in Peso da Régua, district of Vila Real, where the ceremony will take place army of June 10.
Last year, the celebrations only took place on June 10, starting in the morning and ending in the early afternoon in Braga. Then, in the late afternoon and evening, they took place in London.
Asked about the low electoral participation of expatriate communities in national elections, the head of state said that both he and the Prime Minister, António Costa, have called for voter participation in national political life this Wednesday in both Johannesburg and Pretoria.
“In my speech I gave the example of Luxembourg. Many Portuguese think that because of the weight they have in Luxembourg, it is not necessary to vote. And here, in South Africa, it is necessary [os portugueses] vote because we have few elected representatives in this country”he stressed.
According to the president of the republic, “communication via the Internet will help a lot” to increase emigrant participation in elections.
“Portuguese communities are thus closer to their motherland. The main complaints heard everywhere – and which were accentuated by the covid-19 pandemic – were that consular services stopped, delaying relations between communities and the Portuguese political power for two years incurred”he pointed it out.
According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in the post-pandemic, “some” of the delays were recovered “but not all”, which is why, although without commenting specifically on the measure, he expressed his agreement with the Prime Minister’s announcement António Costa, in the sense that the virtual consulate will be available to Portuguese emigrants from this Wednesday.
This virtual consulate, in the perspective of António Costa, will enable Portuguese nationals living abroad to perform a series of acts online – consular acts previously required in person.
Asked about the possibility of emigrants being able to vote electronically in national elections – a move that the government says does not yet offer full security guarantees – the head of state admitted this hypothesis for the medium term.
“This is an issue that I think has been thought about for a long time and that sooner or later the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic will have to consider”he declared.
Source: DN
