PSD parliamentary leader Joaquim Miranda Sarmento said on Tuesday that the Social Democrats are “ready to talk to everyone” to break the deadlock in the election of a new parliamentary president after three votes without the required majority.
Speaking to reporters, the Social Democratic parliamentary leader said that the Assembly of the Republic is currently “at an impasse” and recalled that the Rules of Parliament stipulate that the parliamentary group with the most votes is the one that puts forward a name to preside over the parliament .
The Social Democrat said that on Monday the SDP addressed “the rest of the parties that make up the Council of the Assembly of the Republic.” [PS, Chega e IL]“who will nominate former minister José Pedro Aguiar-Branco for the presidency of the parliament and vote for the four vice-presidents nominated by these parties.
“Unfortunately, today it was not possible to elect the President of the Assembly of the Republic, for our part we remain ready to talk with everyone so that a solution can be found and the impasse can be broken,” defended Miranda Sarmento.
Asked if the PSD intends to present a new name, Miranda Sarmento replied that the Social Democrats are still available for the President of Parliament “to be nominated by the parliamentary group with the most votes, as stated in the Rules, and for four to vote” vices.”
“I can’t say anything else except that we are open to dialogue with all political forces to solve this problem,” he concluded.
Deputies were unable to elect a new chairman of parliament today after three unsuccessful attempts. In the first case, the only PSD candidate, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, failed to obtain a majority of 116 votes, with 89 votes in favor, 134 whites and 7 zero votes.
In the second attempt, the PSD, PS and Chega nominated Aguiar-Branco, Francisco Assis and Manuela Tender, respectively.
Francisco Assis received 90 votes and Aguiar-Branco 88, both advancing to the second round, with Tender receiving only 49 votes in favor (one less than his entire bench), taking a backseat in that voting.
In the third attempt, deputies Francisco Assis and José Pedro Aguiar-Branco again failed the elections because neither of them received the required absolute majority.
Socialist Francisco Assis received 90 votes, social democrat Aguiar-Branco 88, and whites 52 votes.
Parliament will reconvene on Wednesday at 12:00 for a new vote for the presidency of the Assembly of the Republic after three failed attempts today, with nominations due until 11:00.