The president of the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional), José João Abrantes, has announced his resignation for personal and institutional reasons. André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, has alleged that the resignation stems from pressure by the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) and is calling for an immediate election of new judges.
Update: Resignation triggers scramble for new Constitutional Court judges
The resignation of José João Abrantes has accelerated the timeline for electing four new judges to the court. While the PS has denied the allegations of pressure, the vacancy allows the party to nominate a new judge, potentially shifting the court's internal balance. André Ventura is now pushing for the parliamentary conference of leaders to convene this Wednesday to initiate the selection process.
