What do the Constitutional Court and Luís Montenegro disagree on? What are the consequences of the decision? Nine points on the judges' arguments against the Prime Minister's wishes, who will now have to submit and make public information regarding all services provided by Spinumviva, as well as the amounts held by the company in its bank accounts.
Constitutional Court pulls the rug from under Montenegro: Spinumviva's clients and bank accounts must now appear in his public declaration of interests
Friday, 13 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.
