Augusto Santos Silva first participates in the official commemorations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and Portuguese Communities in Braga, followed soon after in Toronto. Until Tuesday, he will still be in Montreal, Laval and Ottawa.
Speaking to Lusa agency, the President of the Assembly of the Republic said he had a model for the June 10 celebrations “agreed” with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and António Costa.
“The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister inaugurated [em 2016] this new practice, which has always seemed very good to me, of traveling with a Portuguese community residing abroad, in this case the United Kingdom. It seemed to all of us that it was a more than logical development that this President of the Assembly of the Republic should also be associated with this initiative,” said Augusto Santos Silva.
Augusto Santos Silva recalled in this context the circumstance of having been elected PS deputy in the constituency Outside Europe.
“I am the first president of the Portuguese parliament to be elected by Portuguese residing abroad. In this consultation, we will try to ensure that when the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister go to a European country, I am going to a non-European country.” , and vice versa,” added the former Minister of State and Foreign Affairs.
In Canada, until the 14th, Augusto Santos Silva will participate “in the festivities” linked to the Days of Portugal and will maintain contacts with the Portuguese communities of Toronto, Montreal, Laval and Ottawa.
In Ottawa, with a more institutional program, Augusto Santos Silva will meet the President of the Senate and visit the House of Representatives of Canada, which includes among its vice-presidents a citizen of Portuguese origin.
“But the main dimension is to participate in the June 10 celebrations with the Portuguese communities”, starting this Saturday with the “Parada de Portugal” in Toronto, followed on Sunday by the Festas do Divino Espírito Santo in Laval.
During his presence in Canada, the President of the Assembly of the Republic will also visit Portuguese cultural, educational and social solidarity institutions, in particular the Mission of Santa Cruz in Montreal. “It will be four very intense days,” he added.
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