Draft Law no. 9/VI (1st) – Measures to Protect Urban Legality, was approved in a Global Final Vote with 39 votes in favor, 2 votes against and 15 abstentions.
The Vice-Minister of Parliamentary Affairs – VMAP, accompanied the Ministers proponent of the Proposed Law no. 9/VI (1st) – Measures to Protect Urban Legality, namely the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization and the Secretary of State for Local Development, during the discussion and approval of this bill in a final global vote, with the members of parliament of the 6th legislature.
This discussion was presided by the President of the National Parliament, Maria Fernanda Lay. On this occasion, the PNP gave opportunity to the President of Commission E and the proponents to present the report of discussion and vote on PPL No. 9/VI (1st) – Measures to Protect Urban Legality, which was discussed in the Municipality of Liquica between February 19 and 21, 2025.
During the discussion on the Global Final Vote on this PPL, there was also a request to reopening the discussion, presented by Dário Madeira, with the aim of reopen the discussion on Article 13 of the PPL and also on the following proposed amendments: Proposed Amendment no. 6 (Administrative Offenses): new article; Proposed Amendment no. 8 (Transitional Regime): new article; and Proposed Amendment no. 8 (Infractions): new article.
After the reading by the Secretary of the National Parliament Bureau, the PNP gave the applicant the opportunity to substantiate his request for the opening.
The applicant, MP Dário Madeira, said that last week the Commission E discussed PPP no. 9/VI (1st) – Measures to Protect Urban Legality and that the discussion went very well. He added that the FRETILIN bench had also made a major contribution to this law, and that the opposition bench had tabled amendments to improve it in this debate on specialty.
The proposal requesting for an addition to Article 13, however, was not approved, so the proponent wants to appeal to the Plenary in order to open the discussion again so that this amendment can be considered. In addition, the MP had also presented other proposals for the inclusion of new articles, but they were all rejected.
The presentation of these amendments is intended to give the government more ways to implement this law on the ground. That’s why I’m calling on the plenary to hold a more detailed discussion.
After the discussion, the PNP decided to vote on the request to reopen and the vote was 22 votes in favor, 35 votes against and 0 abstentions.
Following the vote on the request to reopen, the PNP decided to proceed to the final overall vote. The result of the vote was as follows: 39 votes in favor, 2 votes against and 15 abstentions 15 (approved).
After the global final vote, the PNP gave MP time to present explanations of vote on the referred law.
MP Dário Madeira said that the FRETILIN bench believes that this law is very important, so that there are no problems with disorderly and uncontrolled construction, the use of excessive force and inhumane evictions. When the government submitted this law on Measures to Protect Urban Legality, the FRETILIN bench considered it to be a positive initiative, with the aim of continuing the work left by previous governments and this is good for our country. It was with this intention that FRETILIN wanted to contribute, in order to improve the PPL presented by the government, to better regulate and protect the interests of the state and citizens.
The group notes that the increasing disorganization of the city, as well as the density of the urban population, the social and economic discrepancy, which forces citizens to occupy public spaces in order to earn a living, and the fact that buildings are unsafe, show that urban problems and land use planning are becoming complex and multidisciplinary. However, according to FRETILIN’s perspective, the content of this law is too simple to solve such complex problems.
The FRETILIN bench abstained from voting on this law because it has doubts about the purpose of its implementation, although it believes that this law is important for our country.
In addition, the MP Luis Roberto, from the KHUNTO bench, voted in favor of this law because it is very important. This law can act as a guide for the government to implement the planning policy.
The MP also added that the law has been passed, which is why he is asking the government to carry out socialization actions for the communities, so that they know the rules in more detail.
Other MPs also recommended that the government carry out socialization activities so that the population can understand the law properly.
The Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marcal (Proponent), the Minister of Strategic Planning and Investment, Gastão Sousa, the Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organization, Germano Santa Brites Dias, and the Secretary of State for Local Development, Mateus Wilfredo dos Santos Tallo, took part in the discussion and global final vote.