Asked about the schedule of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as he is expected to be discharged on Wednesday morning with instructions to rest, the chief of the President’s Civil House, Fernando Frutuoso de Melo, stated that “this decision will be made quickly” and assured that the head of state will travel by car from Porto to the Belém Palace in Lisbon.
Frutuoso de Melo refrained from confirming whether the visits to Madrid and the Vatican planned for this month will be maintained, as this depends on medical evaluation.
“All events for this week have been canceled, and we are now evaluating. We are analyzing, assessing, listening to medical advice, and this decision will be made quickly, in the coming days. If everything goes as expected, we will return to normal,” stated Fernando Frutuoso de Melo to journalists at the second press conference on Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s health status.
The head of state was admitted on Monday night to São João Hospital in Porto after feeling unwell and undergoing surgery for an incarcerated hernia.
Fernando Frutuoso de Melo revealed that the entourage was already at Porto airport when the decision to go to São João Hospital was made, a decision praised by Maria João Baptista, president of the São João Local Health Unit, who also addressed journalists following statements by José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, President of the Assembly of the Republic, and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the first to visit the head of state.
Asked about Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s condition, the chief of the President’s Civil House said that “he has been working, has approved a law,” and issued a statement on the Presidency’s website about the death of journalist and commentator Constança Cunha e Sá.
“So he is progressing normally,” summarized Fernando Frutuoso de Melo, adding that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will remain at the Belém Palace to rest and receive “immediate supportive medical and nursing care if needed.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 76, presided over the morning ceremonies on Monday at Praça dos Restauradores in Lisbon, commemorating the Heroes of the Restoration and the War of Acclamation, which celebrate the restoration of national independence in 1640. He then attended the funeral of former Mota-Engil president António Mota.
[News updated at 15:41]
