Constitutionalist Jorge Bacelar Gouveia, a former Social Democratic deputy, is emphatic: “If the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic believes that an illegal or unconstitutional speech has been delivered by a deputy who lodges a complaint with the Public Prosecutor or the Constitutional Court.”
Without commenting on the dispute between the leader of Chega and deputy André Ventura and the leader of parliament, the socialist Augusto Santos Silva, the constitutionalist states that “the president of the AR is not a qualified deputy who should enter the verbal dispute “. It insists that it should be “neutral and equidistant” and not “interfere with the content of the speeches of a delegate, who is always irresponsible for the opinions expressed”.
The President of the Republic, who is also a constitutionalist, receives André Ventura in Belém today, precisely to hear the reasons that led the leader of Chega to appeal to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – who had lunch with the President of the AR on Wednesday – to draw the attention of Augusto Santos Silva “that it cannot go on like this” when carrying out parliamentary work.
“The Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic is not a qualified deputy who should enter the oral dispute.”
On the fringes of an initiative, Marcelo told journalists yesterday that it is not for him to comment on debates or proceedings in Parliament and stressed that it should be a “factor of unity”, after being asked about the controversies between Chega and Augusto Santos Silva.
“The President of the Republic, as far as the functioning of other sovereign bodies is concerned, has always respected the constitutional sphere of that sovereign body,” he stated, referring to the fact that they “have committed themselves specifically with regard to parliament.” abstain from statements about debates, initiatives, proceedings of the Assembly of the Republic” because “it understands that it is not for it to speak on these matters”.
“In addition, an important fact, of which the Portuguese are well aware, is that one of the differences and complementarities of the Assembly of the Republic compared to the President of the Republic is that the Assembly of the Republic represents the Portuguese people in their diversity and the President of the Republic represents the Portuguese people in their unity,” he said. For the head of state, “the president must be a factor of integration, of unification, of stabilization”.
“[O presidente do Parlamento] has the role of maintaining discipline and order in the plenary, but cannot interfere in accordance or disagreement with the political views of a deputy”.
Regarding the audience with Chega, the President of the Republic stated that “in strict compliance with the Constitution and the law, when he receives a request from a political party, whether or not holding a parliamentary seat, he receives and listens to that political party to what it has to say on whatever topic you want to talk about”.
The constitutionalist Jorge Miranda reminds the DN that the Rules of Order of the Assembly of the Republic assigns to its president “the role of maintaining discipline and order in the plenary, but he cannot interfere in agreement or disagreement with the political views of a deputy”.
As for the “motion of censure” announced by André Ventura against Augusto Santos Silva, both constitutionalists believe it to be unfounded. “A deputy can protest, express his disagreement, but he cannot disapprove of the chairman of the AR. This figure only exists in relation to the government,” emphasizes Jorge Miranda.
The same idea is defended by Jorge Bacelar Gouveia, even if this censorship takes the form of a resolution. “If it’s a resolution that seeks to launch a political-moral judgment to remove the president, it’s unconstitutional,” he says.
From a more political perspective, António Costa Pinto, researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences (ICS), believes that “since the President of the Assembly of the Republic guarantees legality and speeches in plenary sessions, it is natural for him to comment and reprimand delegates for acts or speeches that endanger constitutional principles”.
“Since the AR chairperson guarantees legality and speeches in plenary sessions, it is normal for him to comment and reprimand deputies for acts or speeches that jeopardize constitutional principles.”
The political scientist emphasizes that this position is as valid for “corninhos (allusion to former minister Manuel Pinho), as for insults or aggression, which also occur in other parliaments, as for offensive content”.
António Costa Pinto considers these tensions between the Chega bank and the AR president as “normal”, which is the hallmark of “more radical parties”. And as for the “motion of censure” against Augusto Santos Silva, the political scientist considers it a “political tool” to underline Chega’s stance.
Source: El heraldo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
