Portuguese Assembly faces dispute over parliamentary inquiry limits

A political debate has emerged in the Portuguese Parliament regarding a proposal by Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco to limit the number of simultaneous parliamentary inquiry commissions to two. Major political groups, including PSD, PS, Livre, and PCP, expressed support for this measure, citing the need to protect smaller parliamentary groups and ensure effective participation. Currently, two inquiries are active regarding the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and forest fires.

The proposal faces strong opposition from the Chega and Iniciativa Liberal parties. Chega leader André Ventura accused Aguiar-Branco of attempting to block an inquiry into the conduct of Minister Luís Neves during his tenure as director of the Judicial Police. Ventura argued that such a limitation is not stipulated in the Constitution or the Assembly's Rules of Procedure and announced plans to request an urgent debate in Parliament to address what he described as an attempt to protect the minister.