The former Minister of Defence and Justice, a lawyer by profession, who headed the AD (PSD/CDS-PP) list in the Viana do Castelo constituency, was the only candidate for the position, proposed by the PSD.

To the deputies, in his first speech in the 17th Legislature, he began by making an allusion to the current external situation, warning that international instability, from the economy to defence, “puts at risk values” that were taken for granted.

In his view, values ​​such as “democracy, peace and freedom” are at risk.

“The various types of freedom, from free movement to freedom of expression - principles that must be preserved especially here, in parliament”, he stressed.

The re-elected president of the Assembly of the Republic then referred to the new configuration of the Assembly of the Republic resulting from the legislative elections of May 18, saying that, in terms of representation, the hemicycle now has “the largest number of parties ever: seven parliamentary groups [PSD, Chega, PS, IL, Livre, PCP and CDS] and three sole deputies [JPP, PAN and BE]”.

“We have many new deputies and a set of variable geometries and new themes, which challenge everything we thought we knew about the functioning of our institutions. Because of this, and much more, we have a demanding legislature ahead of us. One of the most demanding legislatures of our democracy - demanding for those who lead the proceedings, demanding for each and every one of the deputies”, he maintained.

In this context, and on behalf of the board of the Assembly of the Republic, José Aguiar-Branco promised equidistance between all the political forces represented in parliament.

“This is the only way we can respect the will of the people. The will expressed in free, direct and universal elections that have never been questioned in 51 years of democracy. A good example that will distinguish us from what happens in other political geographies,” he concluded.