Mariana Mortágua replaced in parliament by Left Bloc leader Andreia Galvão

The national coordinator and sole deputy of the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua, who is on a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza, will be replaced in parliament by the Left Bloc leader Andreia Galvão.

In a post on the party's official website, “Esquerda.net”, it is stated that the current sole deputy has carried out “deep reflection in recent days”, having weighed “on the one hand, the protection of the flotilla that is given by the institutional role of the deputies and MEPs that comprise it”, and on the other hand, “the fact that her absence in São Bento leaves the Bloc without parliamentary representation in her absence”.

“And he concluded that the party must not be left out of the debates in parliament in the coming weeks,” the publication reads.

Andreia Galvão was number three on the party's list in the May legislative elections for the Lisbon constituency.

An official party source told Lusa that the number two on the list, former parliamentary leader Fabian Figueiredo, will not take office due to "professional impediment."