On Thursday Dr. Manuel Arriaga was elected President of the
Portuguese Republic. He was proposed by the Opposition Block of Moderates and was returned by 121 votes against 86 cast for Dr. Machado, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Dr. Machado was the candidate of the Advanced Republican Party. The Moderates had originally pat forward Senhor Braamcamp, but, in order to avoid a party split, withdrew his name and substituted that of Dr. Arriaga, who represents no group and whose name had not before been mentioned in connexion with the Presidency. It is certainly a good sign that the Moderates should genuinely have proved their moderation, and that a President who represents compromise should have been hailed with enthusiasm by all the people. Dr. Arriaga is spoken of as an accomplished journalist and an orator. The transitional stage of the new Republic is thus ended more smoothly and creditably than at one time seemed possible.
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