The Portuguese economy will be more robust and sustainable this year, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Tuesday.

The government-run news agency Xinhua reported the comments at an official engagement in the capital, Lisbon.

“Contrary to what some feared, in 2016 Portugal saw political stability, social peace, a reduction in the deficit and a progressive consolidation of the banking system,” Mr Rebelo de Sousa was reported as saying.

Portugal’s economy expanded by 1.6 percent in the third quarter of last year.