UPDATE: A statement on the Presidency of the Republic’s website has clarified that the trip was shortened, and not cancelled as initially reported
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has shortened his planned visit to Madrid, Spain this week due to the state of public calamity declared in Portugal following recent storms and the forecast arrival of a new depression, Leonardo.
The decision was announced in a statement sent to newsrooms by Portugal’s ambassador to Spain, José Augusto Duarte.
“Due to the situation of public calamity that Portugal is currently experiencing, following a series of severe storms and flooding, and in view of forecasts of further storms that may require the displacement of populations on Thursday and Friday, the President of the Portuguese Republic has decided to cancel his visit to Madrid scheduled for this Thursday,” the statement said.
Instead, the trip will take place solely on Friday.
The visit had already been postponed in December when Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa underwent surgery for a hernia.
Until Sunday, 69 municipalities in Portugal will remain under a state of calamity due to the widespread damage caused by Storm Kristin, which left ten people dead.
Despite the adverse weather situation, the president travelled on Monday to the Vatican, where he met Pope Leo XIV.
