Government interference in the Court of Auditors and the requirements for its independence — in particular, the appointment and dismissal of the President of the Court of Auditors

Abstract

The Portuguese Court of Auditors has a distinct organizational setup compared to the other higher courts: its President is appointed by the President of the Republic, on the proposal of the Government, unlike the other courts, whose presidents are elected internally. This raises the question of whether, in light of constitutional and legal requirements, the independence of the Court of Auditors — as a judicial body and external oversight authority — wouldn’t require full organizational autonomy.