In a week where the government has openly said it will not heed “cries from the street” (as mainly young people desperate for a solution to the housing crisis mount protests in public spaces), the World Justice Project organisation has put the boot in.
Releasing its Rule of Law Index 2026 it highlights Portugal as among countries where authoritarianism is taking root.
“Authoritarianism is no longer an emerging trend. It has taken root. More than 86% of countries have recorded a sustained decline over five years in at least one of the safeguards against authoritarianism: Constraints on government powers, open government and fundamental rights.
“Portugal is among those countries”, the document states.
According to the authors, the freedoms essential to civic space, public debate and scrutiny of governments’ actions are being eroded in most countries.
“Freedom of opinion and expression declined in 64% of countries, including Portugal”, while freedom of assembly and association declined in 67% of countries, including Portugal.
“Civic participation declined in 65% of countries, including Portugal, the authors add.
“In both criminal and civil justice, undue pressure and interference from the executive (government) have become the main causes of institutional deterioration. Civil justice weakened in 64% of countries and criminal justice in 58%, with undue government influence emerging as a central factor in both areas”, they highlight.
The authors argue, more generally, that the judiciary is also “losing ground in the face of executive overreach”. The indicator assessing the extent to which the judiciary limits the powers of the government recorded a decline in 63% of countries, and yes, ‘Portugal is among those countries’.
However, the indicator relating to access to civil justice and the ability to afford its costs improved in 54% of countries, including Portugal.
The indicator relating to the absence of discrimination in civil justice also improved in 52% of countries, including Portugal, writes SIC.
Source material: SIC Notícias/ Lusa
Natasha Donn
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.