Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa takes office as president, calls for end to financial crisis

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa took office on Wednesday as president of Portugal, promising institutional solidarity with the Portuguese parliament and calling for an end to the financial crisis.

"The President of the Republic will be the permanent and scrupulous guardian of the constitution and of its values which, after all, are the values of the nation which we are proud to be," Rebelo de Sousa said at parliament in Lisbon.

The former TV pundit, professor, and MP called for an end to the financial crisis, pointing out that that Portugal was still facing "difficult times and challenges" and considering that it was necessary to put an end to the crisis and improve the quality of education, health, justice and the political system, while keeping to its EU and international commitments.

It is also necessary to combat "corruption, patronage and nepotism, the veteran center-right politician pointed out.

The newly elected Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won the presidential elections in January and steps in after Prime Minister Antonio Costa became prime minister, backed by the Communists and Left Bloc.

Costa is pushing to reverse austerity after several years of harsh tax hikes and spending cuts implemented by a center-right government which were necessary to meet the commitments set in the country's 78 billion euro bailout.

Rebelo de Sousa, who will have powers to hold fresh elections and dissolve parliament, received rounds of applause by the Social Democrats (PSD), Socialist Party (PS) and CDS when he said he would be a president for "everyone without exception" from the beginning to the end of this mandate, highlighting that he was in favour of young people looking for jobs, women expecting more recognition in a "still unequal world" and pensioners who still have the April 25 revolution as an ideal, as well as scientists looking for incentives and farmers who face obstacles every day.

Rebelo de Sousa praised former President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who stepped down on Wednesday after two five-year terms, for having completed a "long and singular career of service to the country."

He also praised the presence of "three foreign distinguished guests", namely King of Spain Felipe VI, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker who were personally invited to the ceremony.

Rebelo de Sousa highlighted that the next five years would be decisive for strengthening national cohesion and creating a community based on solidarity "never losing faith in Portugal and our secular capacity to conquering crises."

Following the ceremony at parliament, Marcelo will head to the monastery of Jeronimos in Lisbon to pay homage to prestigious poet Luis de Camoes and explorer Vasco de Gama, followed by a lunch at Belem. In the afternoon he will visit the central mosque of Lisbon and will attend the act of recognition of the former President Cavaco Silva. The celebrations end this evening with music at the Municipio square.

Jean-Claude Juncker told journalists after the ceremony that Rebelo de Sousa was the "right man in the right place" but avoided commenting on the state budget for 2016, which will be discussed on Thursday by Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Finance Minister Mario Centeno, and European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici. Jean-Claude Juncker pointed out that the new president was an old friend and that he had attended to express his solidarity with the new president and with the Portuguese. Endit