The President of the Republic of Portugal fainted this Wednesday during a visit to the Faculty of Science and Technology in Costa de Caparica, on the south bank of the Tagus, in the municipality of Almada. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had to be carried by several people and was then taken to hospital.

The Portuguese head of state felt unwell during his visit and even fainted.

According to the doctors at the Santa Cruz Hospital in Oeiras, where he was taken for tests, it was the "equivalent of a drop in blood pressure". This can be one of the symptoms of hypotension, the other name given to low blood pressure.

According to the CUF health network, "it means that the pressure with which the blood circulates is lower than what would be considered normal".

After recovering, the Chief of Staff told journalists that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa "is in good spirits, he didn't even want us to cancel the afternoon agenda, he's talking normally and now he's going for tests".

Meanwhile, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa assured hours later that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa "is very calm, with a sense of humor" and said that he didn't think the case was worrying.

According to Notícias ao Minuto, speaking to journalists, António Costa explained that he was initially informed by the Minister for Science and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, who was standing next to Marcelo at a ceremony at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Almada.

Costa added that when he contacted the chief of staff, the person who answered the phone was already the head of state.

"It was a sudden thing. He was very calm, with a sense of humor, I don't think it's anything to worry about," said Costa, seeking reassurance about the President's state of health.