The electoral program of the People’s Monarchist Party (PPM) was unveiled today by its Secretary-General, Paulo Estêvão, in Lisbon. Among the proposed measures, a significant reform of the Constitutional Court aims to reduce susceptibility to external influences. This includes reducing the number of judges from 13 to nine, enhancing both the efficacy and technical capacity of the judiciary, alongside terminating parliamentary appointments.
The PPM asserts that currently, the Constitutional Court lacks independence, and its rulings are compromised by external interests. The party suggests the appointment of judges should be handled by an “Independent Selection Panel,” comprised of three retired judges from the Supreme Court of Justice and the Supreme Administrative Court, two constitutional law academics elected by public law faculties, a representative from the Ombudsman’s office, and a representative from the Bar Association.
PPM has recently contested the Constitutional Court’s decision to allow the use of the name of the coalition between the PSD and CDS, termed “AD – Coligação PSD/CDS.” The PPM threatens to escalate the issue to the European Court of Human Rights and has filed a motion to prevent the use of the AD logo. “Given the jurisprudence of the European Court, I have no doubt that the Portuguese State will be condemned,” forecasted the Secretary-General.
Immigration is another priority for the monarchists, who propose formal agreements with new arrivals, ensuring swift language acquisition and courses in Portuguese culture, history, as well as rights, duties of citizenship, and local customs. Estêvão, who also serves as the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, emphasized the necessity of immigrants for the country’s needs but advocated for regulated entries due to the recent unchecked influx not resolving national issues.
The PPM aims to address depopulation in rural areas and housing issues by increasing support to facilitate acquiring homes in the countryside, thereby tackling both challenges simultaneously. In the healthcare sector, the party plans to enhance resource management as it identifies mismanagement and imbalances as key issues. The introduction of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and telemedicine is proposed to optimize responses in healthcare delivery.
“AI and telemedicine can significantly address these challenges, provided there is investment. It is possible for fewer doctors and professional nurses to deliver better services if these technical resources are available,” clarified the Secretary-General.
