Parliament approved exceptional rules for remote participation of deputies

This Thursday, the Assembly of the Republic approved several rules detailing the changes in the work of Parliament provided for by the new Standing Orders, including rules for the remote participation of deputies in exceptional cases.

At the last plenary session of the XV Legislative Assembly (the Assembly of the Republic will be dissolved next Monday), this Thursday the Parliament approved two discussions by President Augusto Santos Silva and a draft presented by all parties that clarifies doubts about the interpretation of the new rules that entered into force in September.

When voting against the PKP and for the remaining deputies, the President of the Assembly of the Republic approved a decision clarifying the exceptional cases in which remote participation of deputies in the work of plenary sessions, committees or other parliamentary bodies is permitted.

The President of the Assembly of the Republic may authorize this remote participation in the case of “transport difficulties caused by unusual meteorological phenomena, breakdown of vehicles or the inability to find a transport solution”, absence from a parliamentary mission, political work in the constituency related to ceremonies and public official acts, ” the execution or movement of which makes it impossible to be physically present in a timely manner at the Palace of São Bento”, illness or inability to be physically present for another valid reason.

This request must be made at least 24 hours in advance to enable the services to technically provide a remote connection, and five days in advance if the justification is a parliamentary mission or political work in the interfering circle.

The President of the Assembly of the Republic may delegate to the chairmen of parliamentary committees, as well as the chairmen and coordinators of other parliamentary bodies, the authority to authorize participation in relevant work.

Another discussion, approved unanimously today, details the characteristics of the new legislator’s certificate of office, also contained in the Rules approved at the end of the last legislative session.

This certificate of commencement of parliamentary functions, the draft says, resumes “the practice of previous constitutional periods”, drawing inspiration from the model used by the Congress of the Republic for letters of deputies and senators, which was used between 1913 and 1926.

“The deputy’s certificate is a symbolic document certifying the status of a deputy of the Assembly of the Republic,” says the draft, which specifies that it contains “the embossed coat of arms of the Portuguese Republic,” the full name and circle of the deputy. member of parliament and the signature of the chairman of parliament, as well as some elements of the Statute of Deputies.

“The certificate is issued only once in each legislative body, at the time of taking office, regardless of the suspension and renewal of the deputy mandate that occur later,” the draft says.

The third diploma, approved unanimously this Thursday, was delivered by all parties and concerns the necessary modification of the Statute of Deputies, adapting it to the new Regulations.

According to the latest regulatory change, “meetings held by parliamentary groups and individual deputies representing a party to analyze voting scenarios on the state budget, which are transmitted to the services and subject to the registration of the physical presence of meeting participants, are now considered parliamentary work.” The Assembly of the Republic now provides a corresponding allowance for deputies living outside the municipalities of Lisbon, Oeiras, Cascais, Loures, Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira, Almada, Seixal, Barreiro, Amadora and Odivelas.

In the second legislative session, which began in September, new Rules of Procedure came into force, marking the return of fortnightly debates with the Prime Minister and the expansion of the powers of individual MPs.