The decision was made on Monday: following the Pope’s visit to Portugal from August 2 to 6 on the occasion of World Youth Day (WYD), the government approved a bill that would grant forgiveness of sentences and amnesty for crimes committed by people between the ages of 16 and 16. and 30 years.
The measure is not unprecedented. In fact, something similar happened on other papal visits. In the six previous times (Paul VI, in 1967; John Paul II, in 1982, 1991 and 2000; Benedict XVI in 2010; Francis in 2017), there were three cases of amnesty: in 1967; in 1982 and 1991. In the case of the amnesty just announced, it will come a one-year pardon for sentences of up to eight years. It is also founded a amnesty for “coordinations whose maximum fine limit does not exceed one thousand euros and” offenses for which the penalty does not exceed one year in prison or 120 days of fine.
For the parliamentary leader of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), the justification given for this bill is “not shocking”. But, says Pedro Filipe Soares, the 50th anniversary of April 25 (celebrated next year) could also serve “as a hat for the presentation of this measure. There is no inevitability here or a single way to achieve the same goal”, which, says the leader of the bloquista bank, “is seen with good eyes”. “It can lead to a better reintegration into society”, but, he assumes, “there are always doubts and fears associated with these measures”. Livre has a similar opinion. A source from the parliamentary bureau says to DN that “he is not against the measure”. “Rather believes that there is a lack of adequate reintegration, monitoring and rehabilitation mechanisms”defends.
For the PS, deputy Pedro Delgado reminds Alves of the antecedents of this measure. “It is not the first time leniency measures have been linked to symbolic moments. And in that sense it fits”says the socialist. Heard by DN, Pedro Delgado Alves also distinguishes this measure from that taken during the covid-19 pandemic, which allowed some prisoners to be released. “So the concern was another. It was a question of security, here it is much more symbolic.” Pedro Filipe Soares uses the same example to indicate that these measures do not necessarily mean an increase in crime: “In this context, there was another thrust. But we can learn good lessons, the recurrence rate was very low and the various fears, warnings and alarms that some intended to create did not materialize. That’s what we hope will happen now.”
Paula Santos, of the PCP, insists that the party is “not against”. In fact, the leader of the communist group goes even further: “We believe that it must not arouse any sense of insecurity in society and must be broadly agreed upon.” This is because, he concludes, the dimension of WYD “transcends its religious character”.
However, as the measure is a bill approved by the Council of Ministers, it will necessarily have to be approved by Parliament. Once approved (which is expected to happen, as the PS has an absolute majority), the diploma will move on to Belém, where the President of the Republic will express his opinion by promulgating or vetoing the diploma. Once approved, the law will enter into force. In addition to the government’s proposal, the measure had already been defended by lawyer António Neto, in a petition, and also by Manuel Almeida Santos, president of the religious institution Obra Vicentina de Auxílio ao Recluso, in statements to Renascença.
So far, little is known other than what the government released in the statement: the content of the proposal is not yet known, nor has it reached the deputies. Therefore, when contacted by the DN, the PSD, through the voice of Paula Cardoso, did not elaborate on the comments: “We do not yet know the specific degree. But without wanting to rush, we think this is normal. We see nothing extraordinary different from what happened on other similar occasions.”
DN also contacted Chega and PAN, who did not respond in a timely manner. The Liberal Initiative said it had nothing to say for now.
Despite the precedents of similar measures, Pedro Filipe Soares sees the decision to grant amnesty as a possible way to “unburden the system” as there are shortages “both at the level of prison guards and at the level of social reintegration technicians” . the minister’s promise to hire more staff for both careers.
Livre, in turn, speaks of a “real and undisguised” problem and hopes that the government “recognizes the urgent need” to implement a draft resolution tabled by the party to improve the careers of social reintegration technicians.
Despite criticism, Pedro Delgado Alves of the PS remembers that, unlike what happened during the pandemic – when there was concern about knowing what capacity the system had [prisional] in response to overcrowding” – and that the government’s intention this time is different: to associate the amnesty with an event, which has a “moment of clemency”.
Source: DN
