The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, today called for the responsibility of all those who perform public functions, in his first speech on the day of the Republic, in which he warned of the erosion of trust in the institutions.
© Lusa
05/10/2026
by
Lusa
Nthe commemorative ceremony of the 5th of October, in the city square, in Lisbon, António José Seguro argued that “when the state asks citizens to trust, it must be the first to give them that trust”, and that “in too many situations this is not happening”.
The Head of State pointed out as examples “late administrative decisions, licensings that lead to endless times, support that lingers, court proceedings that endure” and considered that “it follows that one of the dangers that threatens the Republic is the erosion of trust in the integrity and effectiveness of the institutions”.
“ I call for the responsibility of all those who perform public functions. Defending the prestige of the institutions is essential to ensure the trust of citizens in the Republic,” he said.
António José Seguro said that “it is not up to the President of the Republic to replace the other sovereign bodies, nor to impose a particular vision on the country”, but to “respect the Constitution, exercise its powers independently and contribute to the institutions’ responsibilities”.
“ It is also up to him to remind us that there are principles which must be above political differences: human dignity, freedom, equality, justice and respect for the rule of law. It is with this spirit of demand that I assume my commitment to work for future generations to receive a more prosperous, fairer and more cohesive country,” he added.