Aguiar-Branco led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to the British Parliament today, where he described the meetings held as having “quite interesting practical content.”
The discussions addressed issues of mutual interest for both countries, such as Defense and transatlantic strategic relations, including implications of increased public investment in the European military sector and opportunities for synergy between Portugal and the United Kingdom.
Aguiar-Branco told Agência Lusa that “greater exchange between parliamentary committees will help pave the way in these areas.”
The President of the Assembleia da República hopes these contacts will lead to “closer institutional ties between the Parliaments [Portuguese and British] and between the deputies in their respective areas” of expertise.
The Portuguese parliamentarians’ visit to Westminster took place at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament, Lindsay Hoyle.
Aguiar-Branco was accompanied by the President of the National Defense Committee, Deputy Pedro Pessanha (Chega), the Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Committee, Deputy Elza Pais (PS), and the Vice-President of the European Affairs Committee, Deputy Ricardo Carvalho (PSD).
Aguiar-Branco stated that discussions with Hoyle covered the situation in Ukraine, where both countries share a position of support for Kyiv, and the evolution of political systems, emphasizing the need to uphold democracy amidst significant geopolitical tensions.
Both emphasized the increased role of Parliaments in representing society’s diversity, underscoring the importance of respecting the right to difference, freedom of expression, and the pursuit of parliamentary consensus.
“Because, when this cannot be achieved in Parliaments, it will surely be in the streets, and that is not the best option for those who believe in liberal representative democracy,” warned Aguiar-Branco.
The agenda included meetings with the President of the House of Lords, John Francis McFall, the UK-Portugal Friendship Group, and members of the parliamentary Defense and European Affairs committees.
The group also attended the weekly question session to the Prime Minister, absent this week due to participation in COP30 in Brazil, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy substituting.
At the conclusion of the visit, the use of Artificial Intelligence in parliaments was discussed.
The British Speaker established a parliamentary group this year to study the introduction of AI tools to assist MPs with administrative tasks, such as managing email communications or drafting document summaries and reports.
The Assembleia da República has been using technology for parliamentary debate transcription since last year.
“We believe it is crucial, and I think it is crucial, to consider what artificial intelligence can provide to overcome many obstacles that seem difficult today,” said Aguiar-Branco.
The President of the Assembleia da República invited his British counterpart, Lindsay Hoyle, to undertake an official visit to Portugal, a proposal that was accepted, although the date is yet to be determined.
