Joaquim Pinto Moreira will resign as a PSD deputy at the end of the legislature because “the personal and political conditions” have not been met to continue to exercise these functions and protect the integrity of the party.
“I do this by individual decision only, as the personal and political conditions to exercise the functions in which I was invested in the current legislature have not been met and recognizing that this is the attitude that best protects my personal integrity, as well as those of the mine party, its leader and the respective parliamentary group”says the deputy in a statement to the Lusa bureau.
In the statement, the deputy, who was charged last week with aggravated passive corruption, influence and violation of urban rules by an associate in the Vórtex trial, related to urban projects by the Espinho City Council, said he handed this “personal decision” to party and parliamentary group leaders.
The deputy emphasizes that with this decision he takes on “the political responsibility for the judicial process” in which he is involved for the second time.
“Unlike other deputies, mayors and other political leaders who candidly remain in office in equal or worse judicial circumstances, I am consistent with the ethical framework I have always championed for the exercise of public office and I am aware of my civic duties. I do not practice demanding speech for others and benevolent to myself,” he emphasizes.
The deputy says he rejects “any character judgement” they, inside or outside the PSD, try to make on this matter, questioning how he resumed the exercise of parliamentary functions – on May 29, two months after he it had been suspended. when it was established as a defendant – and directed attacks against his “honesty and personal dignity”.
“My decisions are made in complete freedom, coherence and sense of responsibility, weighing the duties, but also the rights that help me as a citizen. I am a convinced defender of the principle of the presumption of innocence, but for all citizens and not only when it is convenient or popular to do so, rip clothes against the so-called ‘tobacco judgments’,” he adds, using a phrase made famous by former PSD chairman Rui Rio.
Pinto Moreira also states that this dismissal will allow him to “concentrate efforts on defending the unfair and totally unjustified accusation” leveled against him.
“I remain absolutely convinced that I have always acted in accordance with the law and will demonstrate this at the appropriate time and place, starting with any request to open the process instruction,” he says.
The deputy also criticizes the “despicable manner in which information was released to the media, sponsoring an indecent and abusive media judgment” of his dignity, which he says undermines “citizens’ trust in democratic institutions”.
Source: DN
