The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, stated on Saturday that abstaining from voting makes even less sense than in other elections, emphasizing the international shifts anticipated between 2024 and 2025.
In his customary speech urging citizens to vote on the eve of the early legislative elections, the Head of State highlighted that “the world of 2025 is radically different from that of 2024.” He pointed out that the return to power of U.S. President Donald Trump has led to significant changes in relations with Europe, Russia, and China within just four months.
“In today’s world, more complex and unpredictable, abstaining from participating, deciding, or voting makes even less sense than in other elections,” he asserted.
The President opined that not voting in the legislative elections would be akin to “burying one’s head in the sand” and remaining “indifferent to the gravity of the current moment.”
“Those who are absent eventually lose their influence and, as the saying goes, end up crying over spilled milk,” he noted.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa further argued that voting at this time contributes to stability in an unstable world and can prevent prolonged interim governments, noting that “constitutionally, there cannot be new elections until May 2026.”
“Portuguese citizens, 50 years after the most participative election ever, giving life to liberty, equality, solidarity, security, democracy, and peace is also about voting for the future of Portugal tomorrow,” he concluded.
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