“I don't comment on the matter, because it's not an issue on the agenda. The topic on the agenda is vaccination, even if it is not mandatory, moving forward in full force, and it is moving forward”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

A day after the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, admitted a debate at the European Union level on mandatory anti-covid-19 vaccination, when 150 million people are not vaccinated and more than five million have already died from the disease, the President of the Republic noted that “this matter at a European level is being debated and will be debated”, but Portugal should not wait for the conclusion of this debate.

“Let's move forward with the spontaneous, voluntary, mass vaccination that we have had. Prevention is better than cure, and, as we move forward, we are anticipating what other countries still took time to discuss”, he pointed out.

Asked what Christmas can the Portuguese expect this year, he replied that they will have "whatever they want" if they continue to be vaccinated and comply with health regulations.

“That is, they are willing and able to be vaccinated. And if they continue to want to be vaccinated, if they adhere, as they have been, to vaccination, and if, at the same time, they respect health rules, they will have a Christmas that is both open and sensible. And it is this balance that is fundamental”, he declared.