Constitutional Court judge José João Abrantes, appointed by the PS, does not finish his term until 2029 but, according to the newspaper Público, has expressed a desire to leave. If this happens, the PS will be reduced to three judges and Parliament will have to appoint four new names.
President of the Constitutional Court may be on his way out. Instead of three, the Assembly of the Republic would have to elect four judges
Sunday, 22 March 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.
