Portugal President promulgates law on face coverings

The President of the Republic has promulgated the law regarding burqas and face coverings. In the accompanying text, the President noted that amendments introduced by the PSD to the original bill proposed by the Chega party were decisive. The law, which now includes various forms of face concealment rather than focusing solely on the burqa, is justified by the President as being in line with European Court of Human Rights precedents, supporting social integration, gender non-discrimination, and security.

Separately, a study led by economist Jorge Bravo has raised concerns regarding the sustainability of Social Security. The report suggests that current surpluses may create an ‘illusion of sustainability’ and recommends measures such as professional pension plans, savings programs for children, and consumer savings accounts. While the Socialist Party has criticized the government for potentially opening doors to privatization, the government stated it does not intend to reopen the debate on Social Security reform until the next legislature.