Democratic fragility and rights in Strasbourg

Marking the 50th anniversary of Portugal's accession to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, President António José Seguro warned parliamentarians that democratic systems require constant vigilance. Reflecting on Portugal's past under dictatorship, silence, and isolation, Seguro stressed that rights established across generations can still be rolled back. He warned against extremist currents promoting hatred and called for zero tolerance toward discrimination, violence, or intimidation targeting individuals based on sexual orientation or identity. Seguro expressed deep concern over attempts to limit women's rights, noting that domestic violence, gender-based violence, and unequal pay prevent full democracy. He also reiterated that supporting Ukraine against Russian invasion remains both a humanitarian duty and a requirement for European security.

“History teaches us that democracy can be lost, that rights that seemed definitive can be taken away, that what we thought impossible can become reality. For that reason, I leave a very clear message, in particular to the new generations: democracy is not guaranteed.”

European diplomacy and domestic political pacts

In his European address, Seguro argued that the continent must not become a fortress, citing Portugal's Atlantic geography and history as reasons to stay engaged globally. He maintained that responding to climate change, migration, technological shifts, and security risks requires expanded international cooperation rather than isolation. Turning to governance, Seguro quoted Winston Churchill's maxim on democracy to emphasize that compromise among democratic forces is needed to deliver public goods. In Portugal, where the president is currently advancing a cross-party pact on healthcare, Seguro called for similar political convergence in education, social protection, and housing, alongside a joint European response to the fuel crisis.

Legal standards and party representation

During the question-and-answer session in Strasbourg, Chega parliamentarian Bernardo Pessanha questioned Seguro regarding judicial calls to outlaw the right-wing party. Seguro responded that Portugal operates as a state governed by the rule of law, where decisions regarding the legality or dissolution of political organizations belong strictly to the Constitutional Court. He stated that he had no knowledge of any pending legal initiative aimed at banning Chega. Emphasizing the constitutional separation of powers, Seguro explained that he receives Chega's leadership for official audiences whenever requested, extending the same institutional engagement granted to all parties represented in parliament.

Media independence and combating disinformation

Later on Wednesday, a three-minute video message recorded by Seguro was screened at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon, closing a conference marking the 40th anniversary of news agency Lusa. The event addressed media challenges and public broadcasting in the digital era. Seguro noted that while propaganda and manipulated rumors are ancient political tools, modern digital platforms amplify their speed and scale, enabling a single click to damage institutional trust. To counter this vulnerability, he urged schools to cultivate critical thinking, fact validation, and systematic doubt. Praising Lusa as Portugal's sole general news agency, Seguro called for a stable, consensual public funding framework to protect newsrooms from financial vulnerability.

“It is important that the country finds a model of support for the media that is consensual, stable and guarantees the independence of the media.”