Frutuoso de Melo spoke to journalists at the Hospital de São João in Porto after the completion of surgery on Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, which “went well,” according to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic and the hospital team.
After the medical team advised the President of the Republic to reduce his pace for the next two weeks, journalists questioned the chief of the Civil House about the necessary adjustments to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s schedule.
“The President already wanted to discuss this now, but I convinced him to discuss it tomorrow (Tuesday). Obviously, the schedule for tomorrow and the day after (Tuesday and Wednesday) is canceled, and we’ll see after that,” stated Frutuoso de Melo, dismissing any need to replace Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
According to the Constitution, if there were a temporary impediment of the President of the Republic, his duties would be assumed by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco.
“What is foreseen is replacement in case of the President’s incapacity. This is not the case; he is perfectly capable. He has already been discussing matters with me and wanted to review the agenda,” explained the chief of the Civil House.
Fernando Frutuoso de Melo reiterated that “the operation went very well, the team was fantastic, everything went very well.”
“If the President has to make any adaptation to the agenda, he will, but he will continue to perform his duties fully,” he said.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa underwent surgery Monday night for a hernia, and the surgery went well, informed a note from Belém a few minutes before midnight on Monday.
“The surgical procedure to which the President of the Republic was subjected has already ended and went well. The President is already awake and in good spirits,” revealed the note, prior to statements from the hospital president and the chief surgeon.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was admitted today to the Hospital de São João in Porto after feeling unwell following indigestion, the Presidency of the Republic indicated early Monday evening.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 76, presided this morning in Praça dos Restauradores, Lisbon, at the commemorations honoring the Heroes of Restoration and the War of Acclamation, which celebrates the restoration of national independence in 1640, and then proceeded to the funeral ceremonies of the former president of Mota-Engil, António Mota.
On Saturday, the President visited the Food Bank Against Hunger in Alcântara, Lisbon, at the end of the day.
[Updated at 12:33 AM]
