On Saturday, the President of the Republic said that the celebrations of Portugal Day, in 2023, should have a different model, starting with South Africa and only then with initiatives taking place on the national territory.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent this new outline of the model to celebrate the Day of Portugal, Camés and Portuguese Communities to journalists at the end of a visit to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, where 116 Portuguese nurses and doctors work.
With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gómez Cravinho, and the Minister of State for Portuguese Cooperation and Communities, Paulo Cavuvo, at his side, the President of the Republic made the following revelation: “It is in my idea, though still subject to confirmation, of the year that will go to South Africa if possible.”
“And maybe even reverse the order: start celebrating Portugal Day abroad and then go to Portugal on June 10,” he said.
According to the head of state, the model of ceremonies first in Portugal and then in another continent runs the business taking advantage of some differences in time zone.
“But it’s very difficult to go long distances and keep arriving on the 10th of June, when the journey is to the east, or when you don’t go far to the east but on a very long journey,” he explained.
In response to a question about the reasons for choosing London for the 2022 celebrations, the head of state said that the idea of South Africa was pending, which “was supposed to be in 2020, but that was not possible due to the epidemic” of Covid-19. And in 2021 the same thing happened.
“This year the UK weighed heavily due to several circumstances: it is a very young community [portuguesa]which has grown very quickly and has very different aspects from other societies around the world; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, explained that Portugal has a relationship with the United Kingdom that is not only historical, but also current.
The President of the Republic stressed that it is very important for Portugal to build “the bridge between the European Union and the United Kingdom”.
“We have the conditions to build this bridge as few others have. Here I am crossing the Portuguese who are here. It is not just a political bridge,” he said.
In this context, he then referred to the current situation, noting that there is “a moment when Portugal and the United Kingdom are allies in the face of the international situation and at a time when there is a de facto British interest in investing in Portugal, in the rediscovery of Portugal.”
“We are also investing in the UK with the excellence of our professionals, but also in the economic and financial areas,” he added.
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