Since parliamentary proceedings were suspended for the summer recess, Chega has tabled the most initiatives, while the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has put the most questions to the government led by Luís Montenegro.

In this context, the Minister for Education, Fernando Alexandre, was among the ministers questioned, receiving 23 questions. He was followed by the Minister for Labour, Rosário Palma Ramalho, and the Minister for Health, Ana Paula Martins, with 19 and 16 questions respectively.

Proposals tabled

Chega is reported to have tabled two bills, 14 draft bills and one resolution, and is also said to have moved to establish a parliamentary committee of inquiry, directed at the Minister for Home Affairs, Luís Neves, concerning actions carried out whilst he was national director of the Judicial Police.

Amongst proposals concerning the Portuguese public television channel (RTP), due to the increase in capital injected, Chega is also reported to have tabled a bill aimed at exempting the special pension supplement from income tax. The same party also intends to create a compensation scheme for cases of excessive self-defence involving victims of violent or threatening behaviour.

In the draft resolutions tabled, Chega recommends that Luís Montenegro dismiss Luís Neves for advocating the use of nuclear energy in Portugal.

Further draft bills

Although Chega has put forward more initiatives overall, Livre emerges as the party that tabled the most draft bills during the parliamentary recess.

Livre is reported to have tabled four proposals, including a ban on the sale in Portugal of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, as well as a bill calling for the criminalisation of false trafficking. The party also tabled bills concerning the operationalisation of the Council for Climate Action.

Like the PCP and the Bloco de Esquerda, Livre also took part in parliamentary deliberations on the legislation establishing the Single Social Benefit and the Technical University of Porto.

During this period, the Liberal Initiative is reported to have tabled a bill aimed at preventing discrimination against self-employed workers when assessing the income of young workers who are also studying.

Draft resolutions

The Bloco de Esquerda is reported to have tabled seven draft resolutions, including proposals relating to access to higher education for people with disabilities. The party is also reported to have tabled draft resolutions concerning the provision of abortions within the National Health Service.

Questions to the Government

As mentioned earlier, the PCP was the elected party that put the most questions to the Government during the parliamentary recess.

The Communists are said to have tabled 46 questions since the end of the first legislative session, followed by the Bloco de Esquerda with 30 questions put forward by its sole MP, Fabian Figueiredo, who was temporarily replaced by Andreia Galvão.

Chega is reported to have tabled 28 questions, followed by the PS with 22 and Livre with 16. The Liberal Initiative put nine questions to the Government, whilst the parties of the Democratic Alliance (AD) are reported to have tabled one question each.

Although the PAN did not table any questions, Inês Sousa Real is said to have submitted a request to the Minister for the Environment and Energy to gain access to the opinion of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, regarding the route of the 87th Volta a Portugal cycling race through the Peneda-Gerês Natural Park.