Lisbon’s mayor on Thursday believed the party funding law “is clear” and defended that justice should work equally for all, following the PSD searches promoted by the prosecution.
“Everyone should be treated the same way. If there is a political party that acts in a certain way, let’s see if the others act in that way too and therefore they should all be treated equally,” said Carlos Moedas (PSD) .
The mayor spoke on the sidelines of the signing of a protocol between the City Council of Lisbon (CML), the company Construção Pública (formerly known as Parque Escolar) and the JMJ Foundation, Lisboa 2023, for the provision of 110 schools and three municipal facilities for the reception of 41,000 pilgrims, which was celebrated at the Francisco Arruda Basic School, at Calçada da Tapada, in the parish of Alcântara in Lisbon.
Questioned by journalists about the searches carried out by the Public Prosecution Service at the home of former PSD leader Rui Rio, in Porto, and at the party’s national headquarters, in Lisbon, Carlos Moedas declined to comment on the judiciary as mayor from Lisbon. but he stated: “If there are searches in Dr. Rui Rio’s house, see what those reasons are and also see what is happening in other parties regarding the Assembly of the Republic and funding of parties, that should be clear are” .
“Justice must act, it must act in the sense of equal, just action among all,” he declared.
The mayor of Lisbon said that it is necessary to look closely at what exactly is in the party financing law.
“I think the law is clear, the law gives these subsidies to the parties, the parties work in the Assembly of the Republic, they work in the party and that is why it seems clear to me, but I am not the one who goes, nor am I I am a lawyer, nor do I comment on the legal system in any way,” he said.
Former PSD leader Rui Rio, who was the target of house searches last week, responded with harsh criticism of the prosecution, stating that the practice is transversal to all sides. The current PSD leader, Luís Montenegro, expressed his belief that the law is being followed and criticized the disproportionate resources.
The case cast doubt on the laws, with the PS announcing its intention to “clarify” that “integrated management” is possible, many criticizing the work of justice, including the former PS parliamentary leader and current President of the Economic and Social Council, Francisco Assis, who asked for political courage to correct negative aspects in the functioning of the judiciary in Portugal.
On July 12, CNN reported live searches at the home of former PSD leader Rui Rio, in Porto, and at the national headquarters in Lisbon, citing “suspicions of embezzlement and abuse of power”.
According to the television station, from 2018 to 2021, public money was allegedly misused in the management of the party, through funds from the Assembly of the Republic, which were set for the advice of parliamentary groups and would be used to pay party officials who would doing. not work in parliament.
That morning the first response came from the PSD. In a statement, the party assured without further comment that it would fully cooperate with the judicial police.
As searches took place at his home, CNN broadcast Rui Rio’s initial response live on the balcony, stating that he was calm and joking about the situation.
As reported, the ongoing investigation stemmed from a complaint from party officials in 2020.
Source: DN
