António Mendonça Mendes bets on the nomination of a judge for the Constitutional Court. The PS argues that the Court must maintain the “principle of balance” between the right and the left.
PS guarantees: Constitutional Court is not a bargaining chip for the 2027 State Budget, but relationship with the Government will be "severely shaken"
Friday, 20 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.
