Amid discussions with journalists, Francisco Figueira, spokesperson for the conference of leaders and a Social Democratic deputy, stated that “so far, there has been no agreement on the distribution of seats” in the chamber.
Subsequently, Livre’s parliamentary leader, Isabel Mendes Lopes, attributed the lack of agreement to a “steadfastness from the PSD,” leading to the “peculiar” situation where a vote on seat distribution in the Assembly of the Republic is expected as soon as Wednesday.
Prior to the start of the Legislature, the allocation of seating among various parliamentary groups in the plenary space was a topic of significant debate, particularly after the PSD rejected an initial proposal made by the Assembly of the Republic’s services.
In the seating arrangement used in the Legislature’s first session, which was supported by PSD and CDS, eight Social Democratic deputies sat in the front row alongside one Christian Democrat. Livre secured two front-row seats, but its other four deputies (two in the second row and another two in the third row) were not seated adjacent to the front-row slots.
According to Livre, if PSD conceded one of its eight front-row seats, the issue could be resolved, allowing Livre’s two front-row deputies to move slightly to the right, thereby aligning more closely with their colleagues seated in the second and third rows.
In the first session, PSD and CDS jointly occupied nine front-row seats. Even during absolute majority scenarios, the dominant party’s bench typically had seven, not eight, front-row deputies. PS and Chega are each set to have five front-row seats.
Livre’s Mendes Lopes emphasized the protraction of this issue, noting that “from the very first session, it became evident how detrimental the plenary seat assignments are for Livre.”
“We are clearly the Parliamentary Group most disadvantaged in terms of communicating amongst our deputies,” she expressed.
Isabel Mendes Lopes further explained that Livre’s proposal “derives from the Assembly of the Republic’s service proposal, which upholds representational criteria in the front row, while ensuring that all parliamentary groups can work with equal dignity in the plenary.”
“The seating arrangement proposed by PSD is utterly unacceptable – a point we made emphatically clear in the leadership conference,” she added.
Shortly afterward, PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares addressed these criticisms from Livre.
“The PSD will not relinquish any position that is rightfully ours through the application of the D’Hondt method. The Assembly of the Republic reflects electoral voting expression, and the D’Hondt method applies to allocate various seats—it would be unthinkable for PSD to cede anything to satisfy Livre,” reacted the Social Democratic parliamentary leader.
