Portugal's Parliament races to fill Constitutional Court vacancies by Tuesday
Portugal’s Assembly of the Republic is pushing political parties to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court. Speaker José Pedro Aguiar-Branco has set a Tuesday deadline for nominations, following repeated delays in the election process. The move comes after Chega called for an extraordinary meeting to address the court’s understaffing. The election of new judges has stalled since the start of the legislative term. A two-thirds majority is required, but parties have yet to agree on candidates. Currently, three seats are empty, with a fourth judge set to resign once a replacement is appointed.
Aguiar-Branco has urged the PSD, Chega, and PS to submit their nominees by Tuesday. Each proposal must include a full slate of candidates, backed by 25 to 50 deputies, along with proof of eligibility and formal acceptance from the nominees. Without this information, no decision can be made on whether an extraordinary meeting is necessary. Chega had requested the meeting to ensure the court’s proper functioning. Aguiar-Branco defended his proactive approach, noting that scheduling elections for external bodies, including the Constitutional Court, falls under his responsibilities. The Constitutional Affairs Committee must now report on the timeline for parliamentary hearings by the same deadline. A leaders’ conference is already planned for May 20, 2026, where the issue could be addressed. Any decision will follow legal procedures to avoid further delays.
The deadline for nominations is set for Tuesday, after which the need for an extraordinary meeting will be assessed. If approved, the new judges will fill critical gaps in the Constitutional Court. The process must comply with legal requirements to ensure the court operates without interruption.
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