“Using public space to create a sense of guilt in someone who may or may not be guilty has a carcinogenic effect on trust in justice”. The sentence is from Francisco Louçã, former deputy of the left bloc. The context? The house searches carried out last Wednesday by Rui Rio and which, in a rare moment of agreement, they have united the criticisms of the left and right regarding the implementation of justice.
To DN, the economist and former deputy and leader of the Left Bloc reminds that, despite the media apparatus, “there is a very repeated pattern, in different political cases”, such as the arrest of José Sócrates at the airport in 2014. Does this mean that there can be an instrumentalization of justice? “I do not know.”
Álvaro Beleza, president of the Association for Economic and Social Development (SEDES) and member of the Political Committee of the PS, tells DN: “We are facing an attack on democracies in the Western world, there is a populist attack on democracies from the left and right liberals. It seems a bit disproportionate to me show off of a judicial intervention that could be more austere, to say the least.” But according to Álvaro Beleza, there is a deeper dimension, which has to do with the reform of the judiciary. “If there are reforms the country needs, it is in the justice sector. I trust the professionals of justice completely, they are serious and committed people. Now that the legal system has to adapt to the 21st century, it has to. This is a relevant topic that everyone seems to dread talking about. The two main parties are dealing with this. It’s something that deserves a regime dealsays the socialist.
Francisco Assis, president of the Economic and Social Council (CES), also left harsh words about the justice sector. “The improper association of some sectors of the judiciary with a particular media world poses a serious threat to democracy”, he stated in a note to Lusa on the day of the searches that Rui Rio was the target. Previously, the former socialist deputy stated that Rui Rio is “a man of integrity, incapable of committing any harmful act.” Álvaro Beleza said the same thing to DN: “If there is an honest politician for whom I would put my hands in the fire, it is Rui Rio. We are from different parties, but I have known him for many years, and even if he asked me to be a witness in court, I would.”
At the center of the controversy and criticism of the actions of justice are the house searches targeted by Rui Rio, with a powerful apparatus of the judicial police to be accompanied by the television channel CNN Portugal. At stake are allegations of misuse of public money, with money paid by parliament, for parliamentary advisory services, supposedly to be used by the party on non-parliamentary officials. The former deputy secretary general, Hugo Carneiro (currently deputy) was also searched. Result: the former Social Democratic leader was without a mobile phone; Hugo Carneiro saw his computer seized. There were also searches of the PSD’s national headquarters, where inspectors remained until 4 a.m. Thursday to search computers and documents.
Regarding the whole matter, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic, also spoke out. Leaving the Ismaili center, in Lisbon, early Thursday evening, the head of state believed that there is a legal “dual character” with regard to parliamentary groups, which he studied in his dissertation, in 1985. More interesting questions are to know the legal nature of the parliamentary groups, are they organs of the party or of the parliament, or are they both. I know that. This dual nature makes it very difficult to know the day-to-day operation and financing,” said the President of the Republic.
Hugo Soares, Secretary General of the PSD, also sent a letter to the Attorney General of the Republic, Lucília Gago, about the administration of justice, which he considered “disproportionate”. To SIC, the prosecution promised to analyze the party’s message.
The PS also announced this will present a standard in parliament to “clarify in a clear and comprehensive manner” the management of funds between parties and parliamentary groups. According to João Torres, deputy general secretary of RTP, it is important to “improve understanding” about this.
Bench meets Tuesday
Following the case, a group of 30 PSD deputies – mostly from the wing closest to Rui Rio – delivered a letter calling for an emergency meeting of the Social Democratic parliamentary group.
It is our parliamentary group and its functional dynamics, the terms of its relationship with the technical advisory staff and the protection of the women and men that compose it, the degree of freedom of partisan political action and its relationship with this parliamentary group, the existence. or not of limits to the way we carry out the legislative activity and the control of government activity, which largely justify and demand”, justify the signatories, which include, among others, the names of Adão Silva or Fernando Negrão, as well as former leaders, such as Jose Silvano. In response, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, parliamentary leader of the PSD, called the assembly for Tuesday.
Pinto Moreira accused
The PSD deputy, Joaquim Pinto Moreira, was accused by the Public Prosecution Service of having been bribed with 50,000 euros as part of Operation Vortex. According to the indictment, the deputy, former mayor of Espinho (from 2009 to 2021), will have favored a development by the Pessegueiro group, allowing “quick and favorable decisions” in urban processes.
But the accusations may not end there. Pinto Moreira may be accused of influence in another case, as he allegedly asked a councilor of the Chamber of Ovar to make a construction project viable.
Speaking to TSF, Social Democratic parliamentary leader Joaquim Miranda Sarmento stated that the suspension of the deputy’s mandate will happen automatically “with a final charge” as there may still be preliminary instructions. Until then, Pinto Moreira will retain the mandate.
Source: DN
