Latest news and stories about constitution in Portugal for expats and residents.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Carlos Abreu Amorim stated that revising the Constitution is a natural process but should only occur at the end of the current legislative term. He emphasized that such a revision should not be used as a pretext to delay necessary government reforms. The Constitution has not undergone a formal revision since 2005.
Parliament commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Constitution while political analysts evaluate the two-year performance of the Montenegro government against its initial promises.
The Portuguese central bank is issuing a special coin to mark five decades since the establishment of the 1976 Constitution.
Patriotism performs this miracle; we are in favour of our country just as we are in favour of ourselves in a romantic conflict. (Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time)
The Constitution allowed Portugal to enter a democratic Europe, and the European experience helped Portugal make its Constitution more mature, more open, and more operational. Opinion by Carlos Coelho
Fifty-two years ago, on the dawn of 25 April 1974, red carnations filled the streets of Lisbon, and decades of silence gave way to a word that, despite being stifled, no censorship could erase: freedom. The Carnation Revolution was more than a military coup; it was a civilisational rupture and a collective act of refusal against fear, imposed ignorance, and submission. Fifty years later, the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic remains the truest reflection of the people's aspirations for a democratic state based on human dignity, popular sovereignty, and equality. This period also saw the establishment of regional autonomy for the Azores and Madeira, recognising Portugal as a plural country of both mainland and islands. Furthermore, 40 years of European integration have provided Portugal with peace, shared values, and economic cohesion. As Europe faces modern challenges such as rising nationalism, climate change, and the need for a common defence policy, Portugal's strategic position remains vital. Ultimately, freedom today is not just a constitutional right, but an active responsibility for every citizen to participate in and shape the nation's collective future.
The constitutional promise has been largely fulfilled in terms of expansion and access. However, it remains incomplete regarding the full realisation of substantive equality. Opinion by António Teodoro
The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic turns 50! But what exactly is this supreme law of our country and what is it for? Discover everything and celebrate freedom with the best plans for this weekend and always. Read on!
50 years later, the Portuguese Constitution endures — but do we still understand it? Between stability and change, the challenge is not just to revise it, but to understand its place in a transforming world.
As the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Constitution approaches, debate intensifies over potential amendments. The author questions whether the political class is truly willing to deepen democracy by allowing the public to participate in constitutional revisions via referendum, arguing that excluding the people from such a fundamental process is inconsistent with a truly democratic system.
On its fiftieth anniversary, the Constitution of the Republic faces the threat of a revision driven by the far-right. In the face of fear, how can progressivism desire a common ground that defends itself (and us)? A column by Diogo Mota Duarte.
The Constitution should not be an ideological weapon against anyone, and for that very reason, Portugal continues to need a non-socialist Constitution.
Former presidents of the Assembly of the Republic Mota Amaral and Jaime Gama recalled today the creation of the Azores' autonomy with the 1976 Constitution, a political system that was “successful” and promoted the development of the region.
This April, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic (CRP), a milestone rightly marked by many. The CRP is not just a historical or emblematic document. It is the pillar that defines the fundamental features of the State's organization, the architecture of political power, and the regulatory framework that guarantees rights...
A Constitution that has already allowed for the liberalisation and privatisation of so many fundamental sectors is not a socialist Constitution. It is a Constitution typical of a market economy. Opinion by Francisco Mendes da Silva.
On 2 April 1976, the Constituent Assembly approved the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic (CRP). Fifty years later, the anniversary invites us to celebrate its legacy while acknowledging the growing political challenges to its foundational consensus. As new political actors emerge, the Constitution is shifting from a framework for debate to a central point of conflict, marking a potential end to the cycle of stability that has defined the democratic regime since the revolution.
The Constitution has turned 50. It was written to contain power. But power has not given up. It has settled into small gestures, into decisions that no one sees, and into abuses that no one contests. From the security guard to the judge, it is everywhere. And it does not answer for it.
The colloquium “April Constitution, 50 years”, organised by the University of Coimbra, will bring together former members of the Constituent Assembly, constitutional experts, and full professors.
A colloquium will bring together former members of the Constituent Assembly, constitutional experts, and academics.
The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic now has a version in the Mirandese language. Associations describe it as a “deeply cultural gesture” to bring speakers closer to their fundamental law.
It was 50 years ago that the Constitution that still governs us today came into force, albeit with substantial changes. It was approved with the favourable votes of all parties, except the CDS, which opposed it.
The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic now has a version in Mirandese, a translation led by the Associaçon de Lhéngua i Cultura Mirandesa (ALCM), which took over half a year to complete, the association revealed today.
The person responsible for the translation states that there is a need for the Mirandese language to assert itself in national legislation.
It was 50 years ago that the Constitution that still governs us today came into force, albeit with substantial changes. It was approved with the favourable votes of all parties, except the CDS, which opposed it.
A section of a newspaper or publication where readers' letters are published.
A critical analysis of the Portuguese Constitution's Preamble, arguing that it remains an outdated, historically contentious, and ideologically inconsistent document. The author highlights the contrast between its literary merits—contributed by figures like Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen and Manuel Alegre—and its problematic assertions, such as the characterisation of the Estado Novo and the persistent, unamended reference to a 'path towards a socialist society' that no longer reflects the constitutional reality.
The Constitution remains held hostage by those who claim to defend it. Fifty years on, it still does not belong to all Portuguese people. The far-left treats it as an untouchable relic, using it as an ideological trench against liberal market democracy to defend a statist model the country has already rejected at the polls. The PS displays the hypocrisy of long-term power, while the Chega party seeks to hollow it out from within. The PSD avoids the debate to remain comfortable, despite the need for scrutiny. The IL proposes strengthening private property and individual rights against state power, arguing that the current text remains structurally biased against private initiative and individual freedom.
An analysis of the history of the Portuguese Constitution, its seven previous revisions, and a critical look at current calls for further amendments, questioning the motives behind them.
Constitutions are, among other things, made to last. Revising them deeply can mean putting an end to them.
For Seguro, the problem is not the Constitution but complying with it, which means he wants to fulfil the 'programme' of the Fundamental Law. However, the problem is exactly the 'programme', which should not even exist.
