Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
President of Portugal (2016-2026); former PSD leader and TV political commentator · Independent (former PSD leader)
1 change of mind on record, 2014–2020
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
first said said otherwise
Whether a President should seek a second term
Then
Even re-election is bad
More than five years as President is bad, and even re-election is bad because it subjects the President to a re-election campaign.
“Mais do que cinco anos, está provado, a meu ver, é mau. E até a reeleição é má, no sentido de estar sujeito a uma candidatura para reeleição”
Our translation More than five years, it has been proven, in my view, is bad. And even re-election is bad, in the sense of being subject to a candidacy for re-election
Source Fact Check. Marcelo defendeu mandato único e que recandidatura a Belém "demonstra ausência de sentido democrático"? (Observador, quoting his commentary on TVI's Jornal das 8, 26 January 2014) (as reported by observador.pt)
6 years, 10 months later
Later
Runs for a second term
He runs for a second term, saying he will not walk away from his responsibilities.
“Não vou fugir às minhas responsabilidades. Não vou trocar as adversidades e impopularidades de amanhã, pelo comodismo pessoal de hoje.”
Our translation I will not run away from my responsibilities. I will not trade tomorrow's adversities and unpopularity for today's personal comfort.
Source Marcelo é recandidato porque "não troca as adversidades e impopularidade pelo comodismo" (Renascença) (as reported by rr.pt)
Context: In 2014, as a TV commentator, he proposed a single presidential term of six or seven years; he was elected in 2016, announced his re-election bid on 7 December 2020 during the pandemic, and won a second term in January 2021.