The general secretary of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, visited the President of the Republic on the morning of Wednesday, December 3, at Hospital São João, in Porto, where he has been hospitalized since Monday, after undergoing surgery for an incarcerated hernia. He is “full of strength and willing to return to contact with people and maintain dialogue with institutions”, said José Luís Carneiro after the visit.
“He is extraordinary and is a strength and a source of inspiration for all of us”, highlighted the PS leader who spoke with Marcelo about recovering from surgery, having recalled trips with the President of the Republic. “We also talk about our country and the political life of our country”, added José Luís Carneiro, who, on behalf of the socialists, wished that Marcelo “can recover quickly”.
Earlier, at the entrance to the hospital unit, the PS leader said that he decided to visit Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa because of the personal and friendly relationship he maintains with the head of state.
Recalling that he was Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, José Luís Carneiro recalled that he made all of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s first official trips, visits involving “many hours of travel, many moments of conviviality”.
“And a relationship was created between us, first of all, personal, of friendship (…). Fundamentally [venho cá] for a personal relationship, of esteem, of friendship and then also for an institutional political relationship”, he said, recalling visits to England and Spain, in which the President was with the Queen of England and former Prime Minister Theresa May and the kings of Spain.
José Luís Carneiro arrived at Hospital de São João, in Porto, at around 09:00, having been received by the head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, Fernando Frutuoso de Melo, as well as by the president of the board of directors of this ULS, Maria João Baptista.
In his hand he carried a gift, the book “História Religiosa do Centro Histórico da Cidade do Porto” because, said Carneiro, the head of state is “a man of culture” and this “is a book that talks about the history of Porto and the way in which the city of Porto was organized”, an initiative by Father Jardim Moreira. Later, upon leaving the hospital, the PS secretary general said that the President of the Republic liked the gift. “He was surprised, he didn’t know the book had been released. I think he was quite pleased and told me he was going to read it”, he stated.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 76 years old, presided on Monday morning, in Praça dos Restauradores, in Lisbon, at the celebrations in honor of the Heroes of the Restoration and the War of Aclamação, which celebrates the reestablishment of national independence in 1640, and then went on to the funeral ceremonies of the former president of Mota-Engil, António Mota and reportedly felt unwell at Porto airport when returning to Lisbon.
Subject to surgery on Monday night at Hospital de São João, in Porto, where he remains hospitalized, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to be discharged this morning, according to the latest clinical update made by Maria João Baptista on Tuesday.