Portugal’s Constitutional Court picks João Carlos Loureiro as president hours after four new judges take office

Vacancies filled

Portugal’s Constitutional Court returned to its full complement of 13 judges on Monday after four new members were sworn in at Belém Palace. The judges — Luís Filipe Brites Lameiras, Joaquim Pedro Formigal Cardoso da Costa, Maria Gabriela Abrantes Leal da Cunha Rodrigues and Maria Paula Bonifácio Ribeiro de Faria — were elected by parliament on Friday from a joint list submitted by the PSD, Chega and PS. The list received 176 votes, clearing the required two-thirds majority after months of delay in the legislative session.

The ceremony was attended by President António José Seguro, Assembly vice-president Marcos Perestrello, several government ministers, and the heads of the Supreme Court, the Court of Auditors and the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

Leadership election

Once the new judges took their seats, the plenary convened at the Ratton Palace and chose a new president and vice-president. João Carlos Loureiro, who had served as vice-president since October 2025, was elevated to the presidency. Rui Guerra da Fonseca, also co-opted as a judge in April 2023, was elected to replace him as vice-president. The court confirmed the outcome in a short statement:

The plenary of the Constitutional Court, meeting on 15 June, elected judge João Carlos Loureiro as president and judge Rui Guerra da Fonseca as vice-president.

Why Loureiro’s election matters

The choice of a president co-opted by fellow judges, rather than a party nominee, could insulate the court from accusations of politically driven rulings. Loureiro was the only justice to dissent when the court struck down two provisions of the new Nationality Law during a prior constitutional review, a stance that aligned him with the court’s more conservative wing.

Outgoing leadership

Monday’s proceedings also formalised the exit of José João Abrantes, who had resigned as president, and judge Joana Fernandes Costa, whose nine-year term had expired. Both had originally been proposed by the Socialist Party. With the two departures, and the earlier resignations of José António Teles Pereira and Gonçalo Almeida Ribeiro (nominated by the PSD), the court had been functioning with only 11 judges since October 2025.

Loureiro’s background

João Carlos Loureiro was born in Buarcos, Figueira da Foz, in 1962. He is a professor at the University of Coimbra’s Faculty of Law, where he earned his licence, master’s and doctorate in juridical-political sciences. His academic work has focused on constitutional law, health, social security and poverty.