The last bi-weekly debate took place on February 5, during the previous legislative session and before the early elections on May 18, which saw the AD coalition (PSD/CDS-PP) winning, leading to Luís Montenegro assuming the government leadership.
Since then, Montenegro has addressed the parliament in various formats: in March, during two no-confidence motions by Chega and PCP concerning the company Spinumviva, owned by his family; during the confidence motion that led to the government’s resignation on March 11 and subsequent early elections; and before the parliament’s dissolution, in a preparatory debate for the European Council.
In the current legislative session, the Prime Minister participated in the discussion of the XXV Constitutional Government’s program, the state of the nation debate, and in late August, a Permanent Committee debate about this summer’s fires.
The first bi-weekly debate of the XVII legislative session, scheduled for Wednesday, will open with a ten-minute speech from Luís Montenegro. He has praised Portugal’s economic and financial status both domestically and internationally, with two international agencies recently upgrading the country’s rating.
This debate occurs shortly after several warnings from the Public Finance Council, including a downward revision of economic growth forecasts for this year and next. The council has also urged caution regarding the 2026 State Budget, which the government will present to parliament on October 10, the last day of the municipal elections campaign.
Following the May legislative elections, Chega emerged as the second-largest parliamentary party (though with fewer votes than the PS), granting them the first opportunity to question Luís Montenegro, followed by PS, IL, Livre, PCP, BE, PAN, JPP, CDS-PP, and PSD.
Montenegro is expected to face questions from the opposition regarding persistent issues in the National Health Service (SNS), especially in emergency services, as well as starting the school year with a shortage of teachers in 78% of schools and vacancies in preschool education.
Further left, the government’s draft for labor legislation revision, presented in late July, will likely spur discussion. The proposed changes cover areas such as parental rights, flexible work, company training, probation periods of contracts, and expanding sectors required to maintain minimum services during strikes.
The bi-weekly debate coincides with Portugal’s official recognition of the State of Palestine, attracting applause from the left but dissent from the CDS-PP, the coalition partner in government. The CDS-PP argued that it is “neither timely nor consequential” and should only occur as part of an institutional peace process.
Pending completion is the preventive investigation opened by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in March into Spinumviva’s business activities, aiming to determine if there are grounds for a criminal inquiry. Reports this week indicated that more documentation has been requested from the Prime Minister.
The Assembly of the Republic’s rules state that “the Prime Minister shall attend the plenary bi-weekly for a session of questions from deputies”, but exceptions are made during months when the government’s program or state of the nation debate occurs, during the State Budget proposal discussion, or in the fortnight following confidence or no-confidence motions.
