The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced on Tuesday, December 2, to journalists that he intends to visit the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, later today at the Hospital de São João in Porto, where the President is hospitalized following an emergency operation for an incarcerated hernia.
Speaking to journalists from Santa Maria da Feira, where he attended the opening session of Millennium Portugal Exportador at Europarque, the Prime Minister stated that he spoke with Marcelo “yesterday, before the surgery” and is “informed that things are going well.”
“From the very first moment, I had the opportunity to call the President of the Republic when I learned that he was unwell, even before he went to the hospital. We exchanged a few words. He explained how he was feeling, and naturally, I will not discuss that. But, from that moment, he went to the hospital and what happened afterwards is already known. At that time, he did not know he was going to undergo the surgery, but fortunately, everything went well, and the recovery is also progressing,” explained Montenegro.
“I intend to visit him today. I still don’t know the time. When I entered this session, we hadn’t yet managed to schedule it,” he explained, reiterating his intention to “confirm with firsthand contact” that the President is doing well.
When questioned about what will be discussed during the visit, Montenegro noted it would mainly be “about this recovery, which is the most important thing at the moment.” However, the meeting will also serve to “plan for the coming times.”
“It’s a bit difficult with the President of the Republic we have to not talk about the political and social reality of the country, in any circumstances,” Montenegro remarked with a smile.
According to the Prime Minister, there is no dossier that needs to be dealt with while Marcelo is hospitalized. “Everything is up to date,” he assured.
“The President of the Republic can and should be absolutely focused and concentrated on his physical recovery during these days, and that is our wish as well. Although it’s not surprising the idea of him wanting to return quickly to active life, to fully resume his agenda and responsibilities as President of the Republic,” he reiterated.
It should be noted that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa underwent emergency surgery on Monday night for an incarcerated hernia at the Hospital de São João in Porto.
The surgery went well, and the President is in good spirits. If everything continues to progress as it has so far, Marcelo may be discharged as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3.
