“Everyone should go vote, everyone should perform this simple act that can change the life of the country,” encouraged Rui Tavares after casting his vote at Gil Vicente Secondary School in Lisbon.
The Livre leader emphasized the hard-fought battles to secure the right to vote, highlighting the importance of participating in elections.
“It was only 50 years ago that we had free and fair elections for the first time, in which women participated without any conditions,” he noted.
Therefore, he added, it is crucial for individuals to fulfill not just a right but a duty to their country.
“It is so simple and contributes significantly to having a better democracy,” said Rui Tavares.
Rui Tavares acknowledged the frustration and fatigue people feel due to the lack of a normal political cycle but urged them not to lose sight of their civic duty.
“It is a right we have, and if we don’t exercise it, it diminishes in value,” he stressed.
Leading the Lisbon electoral list, Rui Tavares also drew attention to the administrative issues affecting emigrant votes.
“If expatriates want to participate, it shows a connection to the country that cannot be lost,” he stated, urging for these issues to be resolved promptly.
“Come and vote, don’t forget to vote, it’s for the good of all of us, for our children, grandchildren, and beyond,” he concluded.
According to the Secretariat-General of the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI), 10.8 million voters are eligible to vote in these elections.
A total of 230 deputies will be elected across 22 electoral districts, 18 of which are in mainland Portugal, with the rest in the Azores, Madeira, Europe, and outside Europe.
The electoral process is projected to cost approximately 26.5 million euros.
Participants in these elections include 21 political parties, an increase of three compared to the elections held in March of last year.
