The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, signed this Thursday a decree dismissing the government, which will take effect on Friday, after which the executive power will be limited to managerial actions.
“Following the resignation of the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic today issued a decree in accordance with the Constitution on the resignation of the government, effective tomorrow, December 8,” reads a note published on the government’s official website. The President of the Republic on the Internet at about 22:00.
The same note states that “after his resignation, the government will limit itself to carrying out actions strictly necessary to ensure the management of public affairs,” as established by the Constitution in Article 186, No. 5.
The decree, which “dissolves the government as a result of the acceptance of the resignation submitted by Prime Minister António Luis Santos da Costa,” in accordance with the provisions of Article 195, paragraph 1, of the Constitution, has already been adopted. published in the electronic journal Diário da República.
The formalization comes a month after Prime Minister António Costa submitted his resignation on November 7 to the President of the Republic, who immediately accepted it and subsequently decided to dissolve parliament and call early legislative elections for March 10.
According to paragraph b) of paragraph 1 of Article 195 of the Constitution, “the acceptance by the President of the Republic of the resignation submitted by the Prime Minister” is one of the circumstances “involving the resignation of the Government.”
Shortly before the signing of this decree, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, together with António Costa, attended the presentation of the revised and expanded edition of Mario Soares’ book “Portugal Amordasado – Depoimento sobre os anos do fascism” at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. in Lisbon, on the day when the former President of the Republic would have turned 99 years old.
While leaving the country, in statements to journalists, the President of the Republic stressed that António Costa “will still remain Prime Minister for several months” and confirmed that they will hold meetings.
On Saturday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he intends to formalize the government’s resignation this evening to allow the approval of “several important votes for the Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PRR)” at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers with the Government in full, which took place in Porto, and that the dismissal decree will take effect “on Friday the 8th.”
Regarding the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic, the Head of State confirmed that the decree will be announced on January 15, the last possible day of the legislative elections, which will take place on March 10, taking into account that, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and according to the electoral law, this must take place on the period between 55 and 60 days before the date chosen for the election.
Prime Minister António Costa submitted his resignation to the President of the Republic on November 7 in connection with a judicial investigation into the installation of a data center in Sines and lithium and hydrogen plants, prompting prosecutors to open an independent investigation in the Supreme Court in which he is being prosecuted.
The head of state immediately accepted the resignation of the prime minister, although without formalizing it, and over the next two days heard the parties with seats in parliament and the State Council.
After the State Council meeting ended on November 9, he announced that he had decided to dissolve parliament and call early legislative elections for March 10.
In his address to the country, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa explained that he would delay the formal process of leaving the government until “early December” to ensure the final approval of the 2023 state budget and its entry into force.
According to the President of the Republic, it was necessary to “guarantee that irreplaceable economic and social stability that the preliminary vote on the state budget for 2024 provides.”
“The approval of the budget will allow us to meet the expectations of many Portuguese and to monitor the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which does not and cannot stop when the government takes over or later with the dissolution of the government. Assembly of the Republic,” he explained.
The 2024 State Budget was approved in a final global vote in the Assembly of the Republic on November 29, with an absolute majority of PS deputies voting in favor, individual PAN and Livre deputies abstaining, and no votes from the remaining benches.
The XXIII government, the third, led by António Costa, came to power on March 30 last year and was formed as a result of the dissolution of parliament and early legislative elections held on January 30, 2022, following the budget proposal of the Status. for 2022 as a whole.
The Prime Minister and his respective leader remain in office until his successor and the new government take office, and only then are they dismissed.
According to Article 186 of the Constitution, “in the event of resignation from the government, the Prime Minister of the outgoing government shall resign on the day of the appointment and inauguration of the new Prime Minister,” and “the functions of the remaining members of the Government of the Government begin with his inauguration and terminate with his resignation or the resignation of the Prime Minister.” .
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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