The President of the Republic stated on Thursday, during a visit to the Lajes Base in the Azores, that “there is only one foreign policy” and that, therefore, the consideration on recognizing the state of Palestine is carried out “together” between the bodies of sovereignty, namely between the Government and the Presidency of the Republic.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also mentioned that it can be said that “the bodies of sovereignty are particularly synchronized” and in “joint consideration on this matter,” ensuring that “week after week” he communicates his opinion to the Government on the issue.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asserted that “the most relevant bodies have intervened” and that there has been a “very prudent and very sensible process” from the Executive, having experienced the phase of consideration “together with European partners and other partners.”
The President of the Republic believes that it cannot be said that the government is “unaware” or that it was “hasty” in the decision.
Government seeks input from the President and political parties
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was questioned about the Government’s statement, in which the Prime Minister expressed the desire to hear both the President of the Republic and the parliamentary parties about the potential recognition of the state of Palestine. The aim is to reach a decision by September.
This decision arises from Portugal’s “active participation” in the high-level international conference for the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, and the “verification of the conditions” that the Portuguese Government has been demanding.
“From the multiple contacts made, it was established that many of the States with which Portugal has coordinated positions on the matter showed willingness to initiate the procedure of recognizing the Palestinian State”, the statement reads.
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced today that he will consult the President of the Republic and the political parties with parliamentary representation to “consider proceeding with the recognition of the Palestinian State” at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Lusa | 13:01 – 31/07/2025
President of the Republic visits the Azores
The President of the Republic began on Wednesday a visit to five islands of the Azores, where he will visit the Lajes Base and the town of Rabo de Peixe, and participate in a briefing on the geostrategic importance of the archipelago’s sea.
After the visit to the Lajes Base on Terceira Island, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will proceed to Pico Island, where he will visit the Azores Wine Company and meet with producers and economic agents in the wine sector.
Since taking office as head of State for the first time in 2016, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has traveled to the Azores several times, including for official visits to the various islands and for the 2018 Portugal Day celebrations, which began in Ponta Delgada and continued with Portuguese emigrants and Lusodescendants on the East Coast of the United States.
