Prime Minister calls for voting in the European elections

The Prime Minister called on the Portuguese people to vote in the European elections in June, recalling the possibility to vote while away or to vote before. Faced with a difficult Schedule, Luís Montenegro announced that he will vote before with the aim of showing it is possible to vote when there are more options available.

The Prime Minister spoke in São Bento, a declaration made side by side with Roberta Metsola following a meeting with the President of the European Parliament. A meeting where some of the issues focused on in this week’s European Council, such as the single market, assistance to Ukraine, or the situation in the Near East, as well as the upcoming elections to elect new Members of European Parliament. 

"We have European elections on 9 June. Portugal is perhaps the country with the greatest challenge on participation", the Head of Government claimed, underlining not just the timing (day before the 10 June bank holiday and the week where many cities also celebrate the St. Anthony bank holiday), but also the abstention levels that are traditionally seen in these elections. 

"I had the occasion of sharing the Government’s commitment in launching an awareness-raising campaign for voters, for two circumstances: the possibility we are working on of being able to exercise the right to vote while away, that is people can exercise this right throughout the entire country and not just their constituency", Luís Montenegro noted. 

The Prime Minister also indicated a second possibility, for which there will be an awareness-raising campaign: voting beforehand, adding that he will use this option not because of his busy schedule, rather to show there are alternatives to the 9th of June date. "I, and many members of Government, will set the example by voting on 2 June to show the Portuguese voters it is possible to exercise their right to vote a week before and with that offer their contribution towards choosing our representatives in the European Parliament". 

 "Being a Portuguese today means being European. Being European is taking care of all our futures", he concluded.

Claiming to be "aware of the difficulties" of the date for European elections in Portugal, Roberta Metsola followed the appeal to take part and said she is confident in the Government’s commitment, that of Parliament and the Members of European Parliament to this matter.