Lisbon, March 10, 2026 (Lusa) - The outgoing Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has thanked journalists for their "patience over the last ten years" and declined to make any statements, saying that he had entered the promised "eternal desert".

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was approached by the media at the entrance to the Ajuda National Palace, where he arrived on Monday at 5:35 pm to be decorated by the new in-coming president, António José Seguro, with the Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty.

Upon arrival, he refused to make any statements, saying that he was already in the promised "eternal desert" - an expression he used in December to describe his future after stepping down as head of state.

At the end of the ceremony and greetings, around 6:10 p.m., Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa agreed to take a “selfie” with some journalists who were waiting for him outside the palace. ‘“Selfie”, yes, but no words," he warned.

As he walked to his car, he repeated that he would say "nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing", referring to his silence, with one exception to thank the journalists: "Thank you for your patience over the last ten years".

When asked if that was his last word, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied: "Yes, that's my last word".

The retired university professor of law, who gained notoriety as a political commentator, ended his second and last consecutive term of office as president on Monday, at the age of 77, a position to which he brought a fast pace and in which he distinguished himself through his close and informal contact with citizens.

The former leader of the PSD was elected in the presidential elections of 24 January 2016 with 52% of the votes cast in the first round and re-elected five years later with 60.67%.

ARL/AYLS // AYLS

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