The PS (which suspended the suspect in the attack on the March for Life), the PS (which made a mistake in the Eva Cruzeiro case), and the president of the Constitutional Court (who spoke about things he shouldn't have) are the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
The president of the Constitutional Court wants to boss politicians around
Thursday, 16 April 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) is Portugal's highest court for constitutional review. Its primary role is to assess whether laws, decrees, and government actions comply with the Portuguese Constitution, and it has the power to strike down or suspend unconstitutional measures.
The court consists of 13 judges — 10 appointed by the Assembly of the Republic and 3 co-opted by the other judges. It also oversees the legality of political parties and their finances, verifies election results, and rules on the constitutionality of referendums.
The Constitutional Court is frequently in the news when opposition parties, the President, or the Ombudsman refer controversial legislation for review — such as labor reforms, housing laws, or immigration policy changes. Its rulings are final and binding.
