With one foot already ‘out the door’ after a decade as the country’s Head of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is not resting on any laurels: he has convened a Council of State for the early New Year (January 9) ostensibly “to analyse the international situation, in particular the situation in Ukraine.”
The Council is scheduled to begin at 3pm on Friday January 9 – and comes just nine days before the country goes to the third national elections in less than a year, this time for the future President of the Republic.
Televised ‘head to heads’ of the various candidates have finally drawn to a close with only five apparently with any likely chances (one of these being CHEGA leader André Ventura, who no-one imagines will actually ‘win’ if the contest goes to a final ballot, in February. Mr Ventura’s presence has served to ‘muddy the habitual waters’ of this generally dry contest – and see a great deal of agitation in debates in which he has taken part).
Last night’s final debate (between former Naval Admiral Gouveia e Melo, and long-term political figure Luís Marques Mendes) was full of rancour and accusations, but appears to have ended with political observers giving the most points to Marques Mendes, albeit he has been labelled very much a candidate who will bring ‘more of the same’ to this largely ceremonial role.
Parliament has still not elected members to Council of State
Another possible reason for a Council of State so close to the presidential elections next month is the fact that parliament has still not elected the five members it is responsible for appointing during the current legislature.
Under the terms of the Constitution, councillors elected in each legislature remain in office until their replacements are appointed. Thus, Carlos Moedas (PSD), Pedro Nuno Santos and Carlos César (PS) and André Ventura (CHEGA) – all elected in 2024 – continue to represent parliament on the council (the purpose of which is to help ‘advise’ the president).
Equally a ‘space’ at the table has been created by the death in October of former prime minister and founder of the PSD social democrat party, Francisco Pinto Balsemão.
Among members of the Council appointed by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is Luís Marques Mendes, whose seat may end up also being ‘redundant’ if he is in fact elected as the next President of the Republic.
Source: SIC Notícias/ Presidência da República/ Lusa
