#PORTUGAL: Parliament Again Passes Euthanasia Bill

[world politics news]

 

Portugal’s parliament voted for the third time in almost two years Friday in favor of allowing euthanasia, though as happened in the previous attempts the country’s Constitutional Court or president could stop the bill becoming law.

Left-of-center parties in the mostly Catholic country were the driving force behind the bill, as they were with laws allowing abortion in 2007 and same-sex marriage in 2010.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: President Suggests Changes To Conflict of Interest Laws

[world politics news]

President Marcelo has called time on the ‘incompatibility issues’ coming to light – at a steady pace – within the Portuguese Socialist government.

Following various controversies concerning cabinet ministers, further issues have been flagged within local government.

Marcelo says it is time to review the judicial laws on incompatibilities and impediments of politicians ‘if parliament considers such reflection relevant and necessary’ – which clearly he believes it is.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Parliament Passed Revised Euthanasia Bill

[world politics news]

Portugal’s parliament voted Friday to legalize euthanasia for the second time this year, approving a revised bill that aims to fix objections raised by the Constitutional Court.

Lawmakers voted 138 to 84 with five abstentions to back the amended proposal, which clarifies circumstances under which doctors can assist patients with “grave, incurable and irreversible” conditions who want to end their lives.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Pres. Rebelo de Sousa Easily Wins Re-Election

[world politics news] 

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was easily re-elected Sunday, winning just under 61% of the vote, clearing the 51% threshold needed to avoid a run-off.

Ana Gomes, from the governing Socialist Party, came in second with nearly 13%, just one percentage point higher than the candidate from the populist Chega Party, André Ventura.

The 72-year-old was first elected in January 2016 with 52% of the votes, also in the first round. He represents the center-right Social Democratic Party. 

In Parliamentary elections last year, Social Democrats won 79 seats in the 230-seat Parliament, the second highest behind the ruling Socialist Party, which took 108, just 10 short of a majority.

Six candidates competed for the presidential election Sunday. Early polling had predicted the president's easy victory.

De Sousa is on record as saying that relations with China are "exceptional," and the country has been accused of "playing both sides" of the US and China rivalry.

Almost 250,000 voters reportedly took part in the early vote for Portugal's presidential election on Sunday, Jan. 17, a record number of early voters.

Two weeks before the election, the 72-year-old head of state had returned an "asymptomatic" positive test for the Coronavirus, and he went into isolation in the presidential palace in Lisbon.

However, just two days later, officials reported that, "the result "of the test undergone during the night... is negative."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Controversy Over Celebrating "Liberty Day"

[world politics news]

Controversy continues to rage over the decision by Members of Parliament  to commemorate ‘Dia 25 de Abril’ (Portugal’s Liberty Day) at a time when the population in general is being told to stay at home.

Leader of the House Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues is adamant that celebration, which commemorate the 1974 bloodless coup that toppled a military dictatorship - go ahead, albeit in a reduced form and according to advice from DGS health chiefs, on the basis that this will be a way of “saying no anti-democratic alternative will emerge from this crisis."

Prime Minister António Costa has sought to keep out of the arguments by saying, "this isn’t the time for division."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Two Parties Put Forward Pot Legalization Bills

[world politics news]

Members of Portugal’s parliament are debating two bills that would legalize marijuana. Though the country’s Left Bloc and People-Animals-Nature parties are advocating for separate pieces of legalization legislation that contain some minor differences, they would both allow adults 18 and older to purchase, possess, consume and cultivate cannabis. But it’s not clear that either bill would have enough support to pass. Portugal’s Socialist Party indicated that it would abstain from the vote. The Portuguese Community Party, People’s Party and Social Democrats Party reportedly oppose the legislation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PORTUGAL: Leftist Anti-Austerity Parties Vow To Bring Down Newly Appointed Center-Right Gov't

[world politics news]

Portugal appeared headed for months of political uncertainty and crisis after the opposition Socialist Party and their far-Left allies pledged to bring down the country's new minority pro-austerity government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

Pictured: PM Pedro Passos Coelho.

#PORTUGAL: Center-Right Coalition Gov't Wins Parliamentary Election

[world politics news]

Portugal's center-right ruling coalition has claimed victory in a national election after exit polls put it well ahead of the main opposition socialists, although likely shy of an outright parliament majority. Polls show the government likely won between 36.4% and 43% of the vote compared with 29.5-35% for the socialists.  

#PORTUGAL: Parliament Rejects Bill Granting Gays The Right To Adopt

[world politics news]

Portugal's parliament has rejected draft laws that would have allowed gay couples to adopt children. It was the third time a vote was taken on the issue, but the vote margin was smaller than ever. Gay marriage was legalized in 2010, but gay adoption was expressly forbidden at the time.

PORTUGAL

Political Crisis Deepens as Finance Minister Resigns; Bond Rates Soar [world politics news]

PORTUGAL: Gov't Seeks to Lower Taxes to Revive its Flagging Economy [world politics news]

PORTUGAL: Court Rules Most of Gov't Austerity Measures Unconstitutional [world politics news]