The President of the Republic today (January 13) issued a decree amending the state of emergency that took effect on January 14 (Thursday) and extending the state for another 15 days until January 30 to allow measures to be taken to contain Covid-19 .

“The state of emergency was extended to 23:59 on January 30. In view of the seriousness of the situation, I just signed the agreement. In view of the seriousness of more than 90% of congressmen, the state of emergency has ended very urgently and accurately: In an attempt to contain and reverse the rapid growth of the pandemic, this situation has been more visible in cases, hospital admissions, intensive care and even deaths in recent days,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in a note published on the website of the Presidential Palace of the Republic. 

The Parliament of the Republic authorized this emergency statement today and voted in favor of it by PS, PSD, CDS-PP and PAN. Compared with the previous votes in November, December and early this month, this vote has a larger majority. The Social Democrats voted in favor. 

The non-ruling Congressman Cristina Rodrigues also voted in favor and abstained again, while the PCP, ENP, Chega, Iniciativa Liberal and the non-ruling Congressman Joacine Katar Moreira voted against again. 

In the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is the ninth state of emergency. According to the Constitution, the head of state decides the state of emergency to allow the suspension of the exercise of certain rights, freedoms and guarantees, but to do so, he must listen to the government’s opinions and obtain the government’s authorization. 

Parliament of the Republic. The decree modifies the current state of emergency. The new rules will take effect in the last two days of the previous decree (the decree ends at 23:59 on January 15) and will be renewed from 15:00. day. Saturday, January 16 to 23:59 on January 30.