“The decisive word belongs to the mayor, not to the President of the Republic, nor to the Government, nor to the Assembly of the Republic,” he said, adding that “if conditions are not right, it is foreseen there, in case of emergency, to exercise this power and, therefore, it allows the elections to be held eight days later, seven days later.”

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking to journalists in Alcácer do Sal, in the Setúbal district, where he is visiting, at a time when the city centre in the Alentejo region has been flooded since last Wednesday.

The Head of State also admitted that he would make a statement to the country on Saturday, appealing for votes.

“Not in these circumstances experienced here (in Alcácer do Sal), but in other parts of the country where it may have rained, or may rain, but where there are conditions to be able to vote,” he said, adding: “If that is the case, I may, perhaps, as the situation evolves, make a brief appeal to vote.”