Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has warned of the risks of an extended pre-election period next year and does not want the electioneering to start too early.
Portugal’s President is concerned that, with the European elections just five months off, a period of political disruption will kick off and not stop as the national elections are to be held next autumn.
The head of state was speaking to journalists just before his well publicised Christmas lunch with four Luso-Venezuelan families who currently are living in Estarreja, Aveiro.
"What is essential for the strength of democracy is to have conditions of stability and to have better economic, social and cultural conditions for the Portuguese,” said the noble one.
Streesing that he had a right to a personal point of view, Rebelo de Sousa said it's important to have, "a Portugal that is, at the end of 2019, richer, more just and more cohesive," than at the end of 2018.
The President’s Christmas message referred to a, "race against time," citing the prolonged scramble of political parties wishing to score points in the lead up to the general election.
The meeting with the Portuguese-Venezuelan families in Estarreja, attended by the Portuguese State Secretary of the Portuguese Communities, José Luís Carneiro, was to focus attention on Portuguese communities overseas, particularly those Portuguese still living in Venezuela.
"We do not forget those who are in spread across the world, but we especially remember those who are in Venezuela that the Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have visited," said the President.
Marcelo left good wishes for a good Christmas to all the Portuguese around the world, reminding those who live "very difficult" situations in several countries.
"The case of Venezuela is very topical but we also have situations in Africa and Europe where, due to turmoil caused by crises and conflicts causing migration and refugees, there were many compatriots who have suffered a lot," said the President, noting that they must be supported, "diplomatically, socially, educationally and politically.”
