Montenegro Presents Ministerial Names to Marcelo: Government Swearing-In Set for Thursday Afternoon

The suspense is over: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will receive from Luís Montenegro the names that will form the new Government this Wednesday afternoon, with the swearing-in of the new ministers scheduled for Thursday at 6 PM. The President of the Republic confirmed the schedule after leaving the Lisbon Book Fair, where he had lunch, to be ready and waiting for the Prime Minister in Belém. However, before that, he experienced a tense moment with a fair worker who stood beside him holding a sign that read, "There is a genocide in Palestine."

Earlier in the morning, it was reported that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had abandoned plans to travel to Germany to watch the national team's Nations League semi-final match at 8 PM. As Observador confirmed, the trip was never officially scheduled but was removed from the President's plans to expedite the Government's swearing-in (as reported by Observador, he wanted it done by Friday, June 6).

At the Book Fair, Marcelo confirmed these details: "Obviously, between forming the Government or Portugal's match, forming the Government was more important," he told journalists, adding that the swearing-in would "probably" include only the ministers—Belém estimates that the secretaries of state might be sworn in on Friday.

Montenegro is thus expected to go to Belém in the afternoon, before the national team's match at 8 PM. Also on Wednesday, the scheduled parliamentary leaders' conference was postponed, with no new date set. As several party sources told Observador, the idea is to wait for the Government's swearing-in, as there cannot be another plenary session without an Executive in office.

Tense Moment with Palestine Advocate: "Don't Grab Me, Mr. President"

At the fair, Marcelo said he hopes his successor likes books, ate a hot dog, and browsed the stalls. But he couldn't avoid a tense moment when he was confronted by a Book Fair worker carrying a sign in defense of Palestine—"There is a genocide in Palestine"—who accused politicians, including the President, of "inaction" on this issue.

The unusual moment escalated when the woman began saying that Marcelo is one of the politicians who "have done nothing," and the President stood behind her, adding explanations ("We are waiting for a joint position") and trying to put his arm around her shoulders to discuss the topic.

"Much more needs to be done. The President has done nothing, the Prime Minister has done nothing," the woman accused, urging everyone "who cares about children" to attend a protest scheduled for this afternoon at Largo do Camões in Lisbon. Meanwhile, Marcelo continued to hold her and try to respond, and when he tried to restrain her by the neck, the woman protested: "No, don't grab me, Mr. President, don't grab me by the neck."

With Marcelo letting go but insisting she should listen, the Palestine advocate told journalists she wouldn't listen because she already "knows the President's positions."

To journalists, Marcelo later said, "Portugal for the first time changed its vote at the United Nations and voted in favor of Palestine being a full member. I have said several times that we are together with other European states studying and considering a joint stance on this matter."