Portuguese Parliament elected on 18th December its representatives for the Council of State, the advisory board to the President of the Republic. Unlike in the past, this time two lists were presented: the left-wing list (PS, Left Bloc and Communist Party) which obtained 116 votes, electing Carlos César (PS), Francisco Louçã (Left Bloc) and Domingos Abrantes (Communist Party). The right-wing list obtained 104 votes, having elected Pinto Balsemão and Adriano Moreira. There was also an invalid vote and five blank votes.
For the first time, representatives of the Left Bloc have become members of the Council of State. Traditionally, the list of five Parliament representatives elected to the Council of State was negotiated amongst the major parties, PSD and PS. That is what happened in 2011 when the only list presented included only three representatives put forward by PSD and two by PS.
However, this year PS decided to present a list which included Left Bloc and the Communist Party, reflecting the agreement which supports António Costa’s government. Now the five advisors elected by Parliament represent the five major parliamentary parties.
Who is on the Council of State
The Council of State is chaired by the President of the Republic and, in addition to the five members elected by Parliament, there are members by inherence: the President of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Portuguese Ombudsman, the Presidents of the Regional Governments of the Azores and Madeira, and former Presidents of the Republic. The additional five members are appointed by the President.
