Monarchist officials want to change constitution to allow referendum
The Portuguese Association of Monarchical Autarchs (APAM) will launch a petition on the Internet to remove the expression "republican form of government" from the Constitution and replace it with "democratic form of government", so that it is possible to refer to the monarchy in Portugal.
"The public petition seeks to change the expression 'republican form of government' to 'democratic form of government'. It is up to the Portuguese people to pronounce in this public petition on the right to be able to change if one day understand it, "APAM president Manuel Beninger told reporters on Saturday at a dinner in Braga attended by a hundred monarchist inspiration commemorating the fourth anniversary of the Monarchical Autarchs, with the objective of preparing the III National Convention of the APAM.
The expression in question - a republican form of government - is included in Article 288 (b) of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic and prevents it from referring to the monarchy in Portugal.
"This is not a referendum, it's a path to the referendum," said the APAM president.
To this end, the Monarchist Councilors will request meetings with the PS, PSD and CDS to propose amendments to article 288 of the Constitution, in order to make possible a referendum on the Republic or Monarchy.
Manuel Beninger said that a large number of Portuguese voters would like to express their views on the way in which the state is organized, as in other countries such as Spain, Brazil and Australia.
"It does not make sense that the Portuguese can not choose between Monarchy and the Republic and that this right is forbidden to them by an anti-democratic imposition", emphasized.
"A king represents the nation. Because he is not elected, he is absolutely free of lobbies, pressures, economic groups, and party interests. The king represents all the Portuguese ", maintained the president of the monarchical mayors.
Tired of living in a country called "Portuguese Republic" [...] "which is bankrupt, without principles and without morality", the monarchical authorities say they want to "return to live in Portugal".
The III APAM Convention was scheduled for October 13 (Saturday), in the city of Oporto, where the 220th anniversary of the birth of King Pedro IV of Portugal will be celebrated.
https://ominho.pt/autarcas-monarquicos-querem-alterar-constituicao-para-permitir-referendo/