During a ceremony, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the close friendship between Germany and Portugal, highlighting his personal friendship with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, noting the rarity of such relationships in politics.
Steinmeier referred to the fact that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will end his term as President of the Republic in March 2026, acknowledging this as his “farewell visit to Germany” and reflecting on their cooperation over the years.
“I am pleased to say that our collaboration over all these years has always been marked by dialogue, political closeness, trust, and above all, a clear commitment to Europe,” he noted.
The German head of state stressed these elements as particularly important, especially in challenging times.
“Mr. President, you know, we all know that peace is an idea. Europeans are being more challenged today than ever. Russia’s war of aggression and populist forces in Europe threaten our freedom, making it even more important for us, as Europeans, to act together,” he urged, expressing gratitude to Portugal for its support of Ukraine.
This subject was also addressed by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in his speech, in which he spoke both in Portuguese and German, underlining that Germany and Portugal “are strong allies in the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, as well as important economic partners.”
“We are always with Ukraine. Always. We will never forget Ukraine,” he assured, stressing that Portugal and Germany “are friendly countries that share and practice the same fundamental values and principles: peace, democracy, freedom of expression, dignity, and human rights.”
“We must continue to be guided by the words of the 1971 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Willy Brandt: peace is not everything, but without peace, everything is nothing,” he said, receiving strong applause from the audience.
Following these remarks, the Portuguese President highlighted the importance of bilateral relations between Portugal and Germany, particularly noting the contribution of German tourists to the Portuguese economy.
“If you wish to visit our country, Turismo de Portugal will help you decide where to go: north, south, coast, mountains, or the stunning islands of Madeira and the Azores,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa encouraged.
After this speech, where the German President extended condolences to Portugal for the Elevador da Glória accident, the two heads of state toured the Bürgerfest venue at the German President’s official residence gardens, posing for selfies and stopping by booths like Turismo de Portugal and the Lisbon Oceanarium.
At the Portuguese Federation’s booth, where the Nations League trophy won by Portugal in June was displayed, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa presented Steinmeier with a national team jersey bearing his name and the number 7, signed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite not stopping to eat hamburgers, “the lapse” of the Chega leader—who mistakenly referred to the Bürgerfest as a “hamburger festival”—went unnoticed, with a Portuguese citizen asking the President if he had eaten any hamburgers. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa seemed not to hear.
