Portuguese president, António José Seguro, has convened a meeting of the Council of State for 2 November at 3 pm on the subject of social cohesion – a topic on which he has also already invited political parties to hearings next Thursday.
The information is contained in a statement published on the official website of the presidency office today.
Against the current backdrop of protests over the right to housing, the cost of living, the state of education, etc., Seguro has already called for a broad consensus between the government and the opposition parties to adopt both urgent and long-term measures.
“We need to address this problem seriously and with everyone’s contribution. That is my appeal,” he stated on Monday, more on the subject of housing than anything else.
Seguro has expressed concern about social and territorial cohesion since he entered office in March – highlighting socio-economic inequalities and the difficulties caused in Portugal by rising prices.
This is the second meeting of the Council of State that Seguro has convened.
The first took place on 17 April and focused on security and defence.
The Council of State is essentially an advisory body for the Head of State. Its meetings are not public, and the understanding is that members should never publicly discuss what has been said or discussed around the table.
Source: LUSA
Natasha Donn
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.