The second day of President António José Seguro’s official visit to Luxembourg placed a spotlight on the country’s large Portuguese community. On Sunday morning, the visit began at the Artikuss cultural centre in Sanem, where both President Seguro and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro were welcomed by local officials, including Sanem Mayor Simone Asselborn-Bintz, and greeted warmly by children attending Portuguese language classes.
As part of the “Para mim, Portugal é…” (“For me, Portugal is...”) project, pupils shared their personal perspectives on Portugal, reflecting on what the country means to them and how they relate to their heritage while living abroad. Monica Bastos, the Coordinator for Portuguese Teaching in the Benelux, explained that the initiative was launched specifically for the President’s visit to encourage children to reflect on and express their Portuguese identity, memories, and values.
Family emerged as the central theme in many presentations, with several children mentioning the relatives they have in Portugal. In a memorable moment, one child said that, for them, Portugal was about the opportunity to meet the President and receive a hug, an wish that President Seguro was happy to fulfil. After the presentations, the President was presented with a book containing all the children’s drawings.
Following the official speeches, President Seguro and his wife took their time to interact with community members and pose for photographs. Many expressed their pride in their heritage. One young woman shared that her grandparents arrived in Luxembourg nearly fifty years ago and said she was delighted to see her roots represented so positively. Others described the meeting with Portugal’s head of state as a unique experience they would remember for years to come.
The delegation continued its visit to Luxembourg’s Philharmonie in Kirchberg, where a large gathering with the Portuguese community took place in the presence of Grand Duke Guillaume. In his speech, President Seguro thanked Luxembourg for its warm welcome and emphasised that, during his stay, he felt almost at home.
During the event, entrepreneur Orlando Pinto was awarded the Ordre du Mérite Entrepreneurial by the Portuguese President. The award recognised Pinto’s professional achievements and longstanding commitment, and he described the honour as both motivating and rewarding after years of work.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Miguel Monjardino, President of the Organising Committee for the Portugal Day commemorations, also addressed the audience alongside President Seguro.
The official programme concluded with a concert by renowned Portuguese singer and composer António Zambujo, drawing to a close a day dedicated to Portuguese culture, identity, and the strong ties between Portugal, Luxembourg, and the Portuguese community in the Grand Duchy.
