Politicians on discreet vacations before local elections

August in Portugal is the quintessential vacation month, and politicians are no exception. With the Assembly of the Republic operating at a minimum (with only occasional Standing Committee meetings), deputies, members of the Government, and the President of the Republic take advantage of the opportunity to take a few days off.

The proximity of local elections and party re-entries means that most politicians can only enjoy a week or two of rest, and even then, many will have to interrupt their vacations to participate in political events.

This year, unlike previous years, most of the politicians contacted by Nascer do SOL preferred to keep the destination they chose for their summer break and even the exact dates they will be off duty hidden.

In any case, the Algarve remains the preferred destination. Next month, the Prime Minister, Chega leader André Ventura, Socialist leader José Luís Carneiro, Mariana Leitão, leader of the Liberal Initiative, and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will be visiting the region. The Algarve region's many beaches offer a variety of options, and it's unlikely the political rivals will cross paths on the sand.

Paulo Raimundo, Mariana Mortágua and Inês Sousa Real opt for alternative destinations and do not plan to head to the Algarve.

The head of government has avoided giving precise dates for the days off; Montenegro's office only said that the prime minister will be in the Algarve, "a few days before and after the Pontal festival." The historic reunion of the Social Democrats is scheduled, as always, for the 14th, on the Quarteira promenade.

The government will not shut down while the prime minister is on vacation. During these days, Montenegro will be replaced as head of government, on different dates, by one of the two ministers of state who will be in office: Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.

Despite already being in pre-campaign mode, the presidential candidates already on the ground will also have a few days off to rest, although they have not yet revealed when and where they will do so.

Luís Marques Mendes is likely heading to the Algarve, his usual vacation spot. Gouveia e Melo's vacation spot is still unknown, although a stop in the Alentejo, where he owns a family estate, is almost certain. António José Seguro, meanwhile, will head to his usual vacation destination: Porto Covo, on the Alentejo coast, in late August or early September.

Meanwhile, presidential candidates are expected to slightly abandon their pre-campaign rhythm at the end of the summer, so as not to clash with the local elections campaign, which will hit the road in full force at the beginning of September.