The President of the Republic announced on Wednesday that, in the event of a government fall, the country may go to early elections in May. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa advances what “a atMeira possible date ”will be” between 11 and 18 May “.
The head of state broke the silence, late this afternoon, after Parliament had sloop The motion of censorship to the government, presented by the PCP, following the controversies that have involved the prime minister.
During the debate of the Motion of Censorship, in the Assembly of the Republic, Luís Montenegro announced it that willWORK A MOTION OF TRUST, to determine if the executive can continue in office. Which, at the outset, should be sloop – Since both the socialist and arrival party said they would make it unfeasible. This means that The eventual fall of the government is imminence.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa doesn’t want to waste time and says that, If the government’s confidence motion is rejected, the political parties and two days later, the Council of State, will summon, the next day. The goal, he explains, is to establish “as soon as possible” a calendar for early elections that points “for May”.
“The first possible date will be between May 11 and 18”said the President of the Republic, in statements to journalists, this Wednesday, in Viseu.
Canceled State Visit
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa says he spoke to Luís Montenegro about the controversy, first, by telephone, and then received it in hearingone day before it announces the presentation of the confidence motion.
The first consequence dto be announcementreveals the President of the Republic, is the cancellation of the state visit to Estonia that had scheduled for next week.
“If we admit that [a moção de confiança] enter no same Day in the afternoon, at the Assembly of the Republic, it can most likely be scheduled for Wednesday, “predicts the head of state.
“There is one consequence immediately: I will cancel the State visit I was going to do to Estonia, “he says.” It is sacrificed. “This is much more important.”
For the head of state, the priority now is, it ensures, “trying to minimize costs in terms of effects and maximize speed and speed in facing the situation.”
Marcelo doesn’t want to question “legitimacy” of the prime minister
Asked if the prime minister is able to continue at the head of the government, the President of the Republic said he does not want to question “a legitimacy based on an investiture performed a year ago and such” and that he passed the tests of “two motion of censorship. “
Already when you and Asked if it was clarified with the clarifications provided by the Prime Minister, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refuses to respond, claiming that the matter “is under parliamentary evaluation”.
“The prime minister is convinced of the legality of his positions,” says the prime minister, while the opposition is convinced otherwise.
The head of state ended the statements to journalists by underlining having the feeling that “time” became the most “fundamental” factor for politicians’ decisions. “Before it was the ideas,” he launches. “THEThis very much this, over these years, “reinforces Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, remembering that” some went well “and” others went bad “.
