Emmanuel Macron welcomed with military honors by Portugal’s president on official State visit
French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed on Thursday by Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa with military honors at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, in what is his first official visit to Portugal.
The visit began with a delay of more than half an hour, under heavy rain, and several bilateral agreements between the two countries are expected to be signed, with the pharmaceutical industry, transport and energy in the spotlight.
The Portuguese president decorated his French counterpart with the Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty, the highest degree of the Order that is awarded to foreign Heads of State. Brigitte Macron was also decorated, having received the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique.
Emmanuel Macron then went to the São Bento Palace, where he lunched with the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.
In the afternoon, the French president went to the Portuguese parliament, but did not address MPs, contrary to what had been planned and has been the case in state visits by other French presidents.
Before a State banquet hosted by the president, Macron visited Unicorn Factory Lisboa in Beato, Lisbon.
Emmanuel Macron’s official two-day visit to Portugal comes at a time when European ties are being strengthened and three years of the war in Ukraine are being marked. The French president came to Portugal after having been to the United States and being the first European leader to be received by Donald Trump in Washington in his second term.
The visit ended in Porto on Friday where Emmanuel Macron received the keys to the city, signed several bilateral agreements and participated in the closing of the Portugal-France Economic Seminar.
Image: epa11930797 French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (R) shake hands during an event at Bolsa Palace in Porto, Portugal, 28 February 2025. EPA/JOSE COELHO
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