The amendments to the statute for members of parliament were adopted with the votes in favour of the governing Socialist Party (PS) and its allies the Communist Party (PCP), Left Bloc (BE) and Greens (PEV), as well as of People-Animals-Nature (PAN). They were opposed by the People’s Party (CDS-PP) while the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) abstained, as did one Socialist deputy, Ricardo Bexiga.

The changes to the rules on incompatibilities were voted through by the PS, PSD, PCP and PEV, with the CDS-PP voting against and PAN and Bexiga of the PS abstaining.

The legislation to regulate lobbying saw a different combination of votes again, with the PSD abstaining as the PS and CDS-PP – which had tabled the proposals – voting in favour, and the PCP, BE, PEV and PAN voting against.

The three laws emerged from almost three years’ work in the temporary committee to improve transparency in public and political life that was set up in 2016.

At the end of the debate, only the PS and CDS-PP made oral statements.

Pedro Delgado Alves of the PS praised the work of the committee, saying that the transparency package represented a "deep and comprehensive amendment" of the legislation; while it may not "have achieved everything … the varied voting reveal that a democracy functioning is just this."

Vânia Dias da Silva of the CDS-PP was more critical, saying that deputies had "created a regime with [only] the appearance of transparency", arguing that it represented a move to excessive professionalisation of politics with “bans” on politicians working in many outside fields.