Draft law reviews legal frameworks “in light of Covid experience”

Portugal’s government has sent its draft law on protection in public health emergencies to parliament, regional governments and national associations, the prime minister’s office announced today.

The diploma started to be prepared by PM António Costa in the previous legislature, reports Lusa.

It has also been delivered to professional associations and councils in the health sector.

The document has been prepared by a technical commission appointed by the PM, “to study the revision of the legal framework applicable in the context of a pandemic”.

Said the statement from the PM’s office: “The Covid-19 pandemic, which has lasted for more than two years, has challenged all areas of society, the legislative process included. As this is an exceptional phase in which the full exercise of legislative and executive powers seeks to make the protection of public health, the defence of democratic legality and citizens’ rights compatible, the government took the initiative, in June 2021, to set up a technical commission to study and draw up preliminary drafts for reviewing the legal framework in force in the light of the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

“As this is structural legislation, the legislative process was preceded by an in-depth study by a commission of the highest technical competence in the legal and public health areas, and with the involvement of the Ombudsman’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in full exercise of their powers to defend democratic legality and citizens’ rights”, the statement continued.

For now, no details of the draft law have been explained.

Source: Lusa