moção de censura
Published 5 November 2026, 23:09
moção de censura (motion of censure against the government)
A proposal in parliament to bring down the government. It is tabled by a party or parliamentary group and followed by a debate and a vote; the government falls only if an absolute majority of MPs vote for the motion. If there is no such majority, the motion is rejected and the government carries on.
Where you come across it. News from parliament: during such debates the government often announces new measures.
A rejected motion changes nothing in law, and anything announced during the debate is not yet law: the measures still have to go through the Council of Ministers and parliament.
Official website: parlamento.pt