The 2019 Lobbying Draft Legislation in Portugal: Critical Analysis

Abstract

This article analyzes the legislative proposal to regulate lobbying that was under discussion in the Portuguese Parliament in 2019 and which was then politically vetoed by the President of the Republic. It makes this critical analysis from a comparative point of view, resorting to comparison with foreign legislation to evaluate the goodness of the solutions then enshrined. Only such a comparison allows us to assess the robustness of the regulatory model that was then sought to be introduced into our legal system. Such a perspective could inspire and guide future legislative initiatives in this area, so that any future regulation of lobbying in Portugal is in line with the best practices of countries where such activity has long been subject to legal discipline.