This information was advanced by a source from the Presidency of the Republic.

The presidential project that renews the state of emergency until 30 April, sent to parliament, is identical to the one currently in force, without any changes to the articles.

Last week, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed the wish that this "would be the last renewal of the state of emergency, coinciding with the end of April". However, in the introduction of this diploma, nothing is mentioned about that possibility.

This is the 15th diploma of the state of emergency that the President of the Republic submits for authorisation of the parliament in the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic, after hearing the parties with parliamentary seat and the Government, and will be discussed and voted by the deputies on Wednesday afternoon.

The head of state spoke to the country every time he decreed this legal framework, except for the period between the announcement of his re-election on 7 December and his re-election as President of the Republic on 24 January, and the penultimate renewal of the state of emergency on 11 March, which coincided with the presentation of the government's deconfinement plan and his trip to the Vatican.

Under the Constitution, the state of emergency, which allows for the suspension of the exercise of some rights, freedoms and guarantees, cannot last for more than 15 days, without prejudice to possible renewals with the same time limit.

To decree it, the President of the Republic must hear the government and have authorisation from Parliament, which in the last six renewals was given with votes in favour from PS, PSD, CDS-PP and PAN and the abstention of BE.

The state of emergency has allowed the adoption of measures restricting the rights to freedom and movement - such as the confinement of patients with Covid-19, infected and people under active surveillance or limits to movement.

It has also allowed limitations on the exercise of private, social and cooperative initiative, as well as on the rights of workers - for example, to impose telework - and on the rights to emigrate and to leave and return to the national territory and the freedom to learn and teach, among others.