The Assembly of the Republic approved this Friday the visit of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to Ireland between October 18 and 21 on an official visit.
This trip was approved with the votes in favor of the majority of the parliamentary benches and the sole deputies of the PAN and Livre, with the exception of Chega, who abstained. At the end of this vote, the parliamentary leader of Chega announced the presentation of an explanation of vote.
In the letter sent to parliament, the President of the Republic states that “This state visit follows the reiterated invitation, since he visited Portugal in 2015, from President Michael Higgins, and was scheduled for May 2020, having been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa points out that this “trip aims to strengthen the relationship with the Irish authorities, in a European context, taking into account the post-Brexit situation and the relationship with the United Kingdom, as well as contacts with the Portuguese community” .
And he points out that “since 2004, a Portuguese President of the Republic has not traveled to this friendly country and partner of the European Union”.
According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic cannot leave the national territory without the consent of the Assembly of the Republic.
Source: Observadora
