A guide to the crisis period. In Portugal.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is the President of Portugal, who was elected in the first round of elections five years ago by winning 52% of the votes of eligible voters who turned out at the polls. However, Portugal's traditionally left-leaning politics are gradually becoming a little more divisive. The blame lies with the regional nationalism that is spreading through Europe, and which has deep roots in Portugal, going back to the difficult period of the Carnation Revolution (April 1974) and in many respects beyond. Today, far-right activities are also thriving in other European countries, and an obvious underpinning reason for these tendencies is the often problematic and questionable forms of dealing with the problems associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Portugal is a country with approximately the same population as the Czech Republic, but with fewer infections and deaths. However, the healthcare system is not at the Czech level, and this is the reason for the dramatically exacerbated situation, which the Portuguese are being helped to resolve by neighbouring countries. The British mutation of the virus has caused the disease to spread faster and has called retired doctors back into service. Like the rest of Europe, and indeed the world, the Portuguese are turning to a vaccine as the only possible solution to a desperate situation. Marcelo Rebelo de Souza has succeeded in this year's presidential elections, again in the first round, and with a higher proportion of the vote than five years ago. This is a good signal all round, because it means continuity and the necessary level of certainty. A seventy-two-year-old experienced politician can guide his country through a period of crisis through his ability to communicate calmly and clearly, as well as through his obvious and long-lasting popularity. He is one of those European leaders who are in their place.
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