Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

Good evening,

The Portuguese will be called upon tomorrow to vote in the General Election.

This is a determining choice for our future – and for the future of your children.

A new Government will result from the General Election. There are no admissible governmental solutions outside Parliament’s scope, the electoral results and the party political forces.

Tomorrow’s elections are taking place at a crucial moment for the Country. As I stated to the Portuguese, when I set the date for the General Election, all electoral acts are important, but this electoral act is particularly important for the future of Portugal.

We are facing extremely complex challenges, which demand from all of us a great sense of responsibility.

After the electoral campaign, which was in general serenely conducted, the Portuguese are better informed and enlightened on the proposals of the different political parties.

We are thus exercising, tomorrow, a right which only exists because we are living in a democracy.

Many peoples around the world would appreciate choosing their future through the right to vote. The Portuguese have that right, they live within a stable and consolidated democracy, similar to that of our partners in the European Union.

For this reason also, we must all be aware that our vote is an assertion of freedom, an instrument which we must not renounce.

Voting is also a contribution towards the strengthening of our democracy and of Portugal’s worldwide prestige.

Abstaining is not a solution. Abstaining from voting is giving up the present and abdicating from the future. Whoever opts for abstaining rescinds from having an active voice and from participating in the construction of a better developed and fairer Portugal.

I appeal to the Portuguese that, tonight, they organize their tomorrow’s activities in order to fit in the necessary time to exercise their voting rights.

Amongst professional duties, family commitments, viewing football matches or other sports and leisure activities, take the time to go to your voting station, between 8 in the morning and 7 in the evening.

Do not miss this act. This is what I ask you. The future of the Country justifies that all should vote, even if the weather is no help.

And incidentally, a word of recognition is due to all those who dedicate their day, tomorrow, to the voting stations, accompanying the electoral act to guarantee its legitimacy and transparency.

To all other Portuguese the only thing now requested is the simple gesture of visiting their voting stations and exercising a fundamental right.

I thus appeal to all Portuguese to exercise their voting rights tomorrow.

Good evening