José Sena Goulão / EPA
António José Seguro takes office as President of the Republic
Although Seguro had said during the electoral campaign that his first State Council would be held in March, the postponements in appointments should lead to the meeting only taking place in April.
Antonio José Segurohas not yet fulfilled one of the central promises of his campaign: the rapid convening of the State Council.
During the electoral period, the new President of the Republic guaranteed that the first meeting of the consultative body would take place in Marchhighlighting the urgency of discussing topics related to defense and security. However, the lack of consensus in the Assembly of the Republic and the absence of presidential decisions have been postponing this objective.
There are still no defined deadlines for choosing the members of the State Council or for the complete constitution of the Civil House. According to , the most optimistic scenario indicates that the first Council of State will only be able to meet after the Open Presidency that Seguro will take place the week of April 6in the central regions of the country affected by the storms.
At the same time, the election of representatives of the Assembly of the Republic to external bodies remains blocked. The leaders’ conference scheduled for March 25 is expected to reset the calendarbut voting is unlikely to take place before April 10th.
However, some appointments have already been made. Claudia Ribeiro She was chosen as secretary of the State Council and provisionally assumes the head of the Civil House. To the Military House, the President appointed lieutenant general Maia Pereira. Already Manuela Teixeira Pintowith diplomatic experience in Brussels, will join the team as an advisor.
The delay contrasts with the criticisms made by Seguro itself during the campaign. At the time, it was classified as Parliament’s incapacity “unbelievable” in electing representatives to bodies such as the State Council and the Constitutional Court and questioned the political reasons behind the successive postponements.
Compared to previous heads of state, Seguro reveals less speed. Marcelo Rebelo de Souza stood out for its speed, having announced its advisors few days after taking office. Other Presidents, such as Aníbal Cavaco Silva e Jorge Sampaioalso formalized their choices within relatively short periods of time.
