Turn on your television right now and you will see scenes as Lisbon prepares for the swearing in of its new president, António José Seguro.
The split-screen effect on some broadcasters shows the ‘pomp and ceremony’ of venerated guests arriving and assembling while on ‘the other side’, the outgoing president is making his way to parliament ‘on foot’, popping into shops and tobacconists, and generally leaving the city ‘delighted’ to have had the chance of a final selfie.
The ceremony in parliament sees a number of foreign heads of state, including King Felipe VI of Spain. It will be ‘the best show’ that Portugal can put on in these circumstances as focus will be on ‘what Seguro actually says’ in his inaugural address.
As reports are stressing today, the incoming president has a ‘list of challenges’ nationally ahead of him (not to mention internationally): not least ‘a pact for the running of the health service’ (his plan) and a Council of State on Defence and Security (as a result of the surreal state in which the world has plunged).
SIC Notícias recalls that this is a man who has “promised to choose the moments in which he speaks” (read that as ‘a bit different from his predecessor’).
Seguro has also promised to start his mandate with a visit to the areas in the centre of the country that were so brutally battered in the recent storms. On this subject he has said that he means to ‘hold the government’s feet to the fire’ when it comes to announced measures of support, to ensure that everyone needing help does indeed receive it.
António José Seguro has also indicated that he is not impressed with the government’s idea of ‘negotiations’ over its plans for labour reform. If the unions are not onboard, he has said he won’t be promulgating any law…
A lot lies ahead – and this time around, the country has a man who weighs every word carefully.
Says SIC, “the president who guarantees he will do everything for stability has in his first three months to write three speeches: today’s, one to commemorate the April 25 ‘day of liberty’- and then June 10 (Portugal Day).
Source: SIC Notícias
