Questioned whether the unemployment numbers - which, according to monthly data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), are at 7.1%, with January being the third consecutive month in which there was an increase - Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that this data is a “warning signal”.

Speaking to journalists at the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that the increase in unemployment is a sign "that international evolution is slow, that the war continues, that inflation is still in many countries remains high, that the international economy has not recovered".

"Even major European powers like Germany are having a slow evolution and as it is an open world, this has effects", he stressed.

One of these effects, according to the head of state, is, “although at a low level, the rise in some sectors of the unemployment rate”, since the current period “is still in a period of low activity”.

The President of the Republic gave the example of tourism which, despite “going very well”, will “progressively increase during the year”.

“Therefore, I would say, always with caution, that exiting the crisis period may take a little longer than expected”, he said.


“Good news”


Despite this, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considered that the fact that, in 2022, the Portuguese economy grew by 6.7% in “gross product”, is “good news”

“Now, we already know that in 2023 such growth is not possible and, therefore, we will see exactly how the economy will evolve. You know how I am: I don't belong to either the pessimists or the bubbly optimists and therefore I like to be in a very serene and very realistic and intermediate position”, he said.

Asked whether he considers that, since inflation in food products has risen and reached 20%, the Competition Authority should be attentive to prices, Marcelo replied: “Certainly, certainly”.