Database

The immunities of States and international organisations

This database contains the original national contributions bringing together information on The immunities of States and international organisations

Information on the contribution

Member State
Portugal
Themes
Type of document
Jurisprudence
Permanent link to the contribution
http://www.cahdidatabases.coe.int/C/Immunities/Portugal/2008/229
Attachments
Useful links
http://www.dgsi.pt
Translations
THIS DOCUMENT CAN BE QUOTED AS FOLLOWS:
Database of the CAHDI "The immunities of States and international organisations" - contribution of Portugal - Jurisprudence of 06/05/2008

Mozambique (State) v. individual

Author(ity)

District Court (Tribunal da Relação de Lisboa) - Appeal

Date of the decision, of the judgment

06/05/2008

Points of law

Foreign States are immune from jurisdiction relating to their "public acts" (acta jure imperii) but are not immune from jurisdiction for their "private acts" (acta jure gestionis), including commercial activities

Summary of the case

Following the layoff of a locally contracted staff member of the Mozambican Embassy in Lisbon, the District Court considered that the party (Mozambique) acted as a private person (ius gestionis).

The Court recognized the co-existence of two theories, that of absolute State immunity which is the logical consequence of the principle “par in parem non habet imperium”, by virtue of which one State is not subject to the jurisdiction of another State that of relative State immunity which is tending to predominate, since the State also acts as a private person in legal relations governed by private law.

Sources

See link

Additional information (explanations, notes, etc.)

Case nº 10414/2007-1