Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking at the annual meeting with Portuguese startups that will participate in this technological summit, in the former royal arena, next to the Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon – which this time, contrary to what has been usual, did not count on the participation of the executive president of Web Summit, who is now Katherina Maher.

"[This edition] is going to go very well. And, I tell you, ironically, what happened only increased the attention on the Web Summit. It's the kind of publicity that sometimes seems negative but is the best publicity: say bad things about me, but talk, or say there are small problems, but talk", declared the head of state.

According to the President of the Republic, "In the balance of powers in the world, messing with one or another interlocutor, one or another protagonist of the Web Summit only proves the importance of the Web Summit".

Paddy Cosgrave resigned on 21 October, after large companies such as Google, Meta and Amazon, canceled their participation in the Web Summit, because of a message he published on the social network X, formerly Twitter, about the war between Israel and Hamas, for which he ended up apologising.

In this meeting with the President of the Republic and the Minister of Economy, António Costa Silva, Web Summit was represented by its vice-president and director for Portugal Artur Pereira.

At the end of the meeting, when asked by journalists if he was surprised by Paddy Cosgrave's words and the reaction they provoked, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied: "Everyone says what they think. We live in a free country. Say what they think, and then clarify what he says, and then removes the consequences of the reactions to what he said".

The head of state argued that "it is worth" keeping the Web Summit in Portugal and that otherwise, it would represent "losing a position on the map in a fundamental sector".

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that he will not speak at the closing of this year's edition – scheduled for between the 13th and 16th of November – because it coincides with a ceremony commemorating the independence of Guinea-Bissau, but promised to appear on another day "in an unexpected and surprise way, which is much more fun".

In his intervention, the President of the Republic considered that the so-called 'startups' law, which he enacted in 2023, "can be much better", with "a more generous regime", and also that the State can "support a little more" these emerging companies.

Previously, the Minister of Economy pointed to Portuguese law as one of the "most competitive in Europe and the world" and stated that in the State Budget for 2024, the Government continues "to work and fight to have optimal conditions" for 'startups'.

"The IRC for startups was reduced to 12.5%, it is one of the most competitive in Europe. And the non-resident regime will also be maintained for startup staff", he highlighted.

According to António Costa Silva, Portugal has around 4,600 'startups' that constitute "a core ecosystem" and for which the Web Summit "is absolutely vital" as a "platform for dialogue" and for access to investment.

Under the terms of a contract signed in 2018 with the Government and Lisbon City Council, Web Summit committed to remaining in the Portuguese capital for another ten years and not holding competing events in Europe during this period, receiving in return 11 million euros for each edition – for a total of 110 million euros, of which 80 million come from the Portuguese State, divided between 2019 and 2028.

Related article: New CEO of Web Summit announced