Parliament elects new members to Council of State
Parliament has elected five new members to the Council of State, including Leonor Beleza, André Ventura, Carlos Moedas, Pedro Duarte, and Carlos César. The session also saw the rejection of Tiago Antunes, the Socialist Party nominee for Ombudsman, who failed to secure the required two-thirds majority. Additionally, the election for the RTP Opinion Council was postponed due to legal uncertainties regarding the candidacies of Chega deputies.
The Council of State (Conselho de Estado) is a constitutionally established advisory body that the President consults on major acts, such as dissolving parliament or declaring exceptional states. Five of its members are elected by the Assembly of the Republic, so a delay in those Assembly votes postpones the council’s full composition and can affect which voices formally advise the President.
The Ombudsman (Provedor de Justiça) is an independent public institution that investigates complaints from citizens about the actions or omissions of public bodies. It can review cases, issue non-binding recommendations and publish reports, so tenants or landlords who face delays or irregularities with state housing supports can take their complaints there.
