The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, dissolved the Portuguese parliament on Monday (15) with immediate effect, and it will operate through a standing committee of 45 deputies whenever necessary.

The Portuguese Parliament will maintain this "minimum services" structure until the new deputies take office. Portugal will hold legislative elections on March 10.

The members of the Standing Committee will continue to be able to ask the government questions in writing, but they will not be able to call ministers to parliamentary hearings. The specialized committees will operate "exclusively for the final drafting of legislation".

This is the ninth dissolution of the Portuguese Parliament since April 25, 1974 and comes after Prime Minister António Costa resigned.