The CDS party is moving forward with an amendment to the decree regulating the display of flags on public buildings following a presidential veto. The PSD has also introduced an autonomous proposal, which officials claim goes further than the CDS version in addressing the President's concerns regarding ideological symbols.
PSD and CDS propose flag decree amendments
Tuesday, 15 September 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
- Leader: Luís Montenegro (Prime Minister)
- Ideology: Liberal conservatism, pro-Europeanism
- Coalition: Social Democratic Party (PSD) + CDS–People's Party (CDS-PP)
The Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democrática, AD) is a center-right coalition primarily composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 89 seats and the CDS–People's Party (CDS-PP) with 2 seats. Together, they form the current minority government under Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The PSD, despite its name, occupies the center-right of Portugal's political spectrum and has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. The CDS-PP is a smaller Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner.
The AD coalition governs without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation. The coalition has imposed a cordon sanitaire against Chega, refusing formal cooperation with the far-right despite its parliamentary strength, which means it must negotiate with the PS or smaller parties to advance its legislative agenda.
4 sources
- CDS moves forward alone with amendment to decree on flags vetoed by Segurodn.pt ·
- PSD goes further than CDS on changes to the flag decree vetoed by the Presidentcmjornal.pt ·
- CDS moves forward alone with amendment to the decree on flagsobservador.pt ·
- CDS reinforces ban on hoisting "ideological flags" on public buildingsrtp.pt ·
