The Prime Minister protested this Monday against the selective leaking of information in the judicial investigation ‘Perfect Storm’ involving Minister João Gomes Cravinho, but promised to politically evaluate the possible future consequences of this process, without prejudging justice.
These views were expressed by António Costa at the end of a long interview he gave to TVI and CNN/Portugal, after being questioned about the fact that the current Minister of Foreign Affairs remains in his government in light of his previous role as holder of the defense portfolio.
In the interview, the executive leader was confronted with the news from the weekly magazine Emphatic about statements made by one of the defendants in the ‘Perfect Storm’ case, which could cast doubt on the actions of the former Minister of Defense.
‘Let us not be intoxicated by selective leaks of information, especially if later there are wiretaps that we realize – that it was recorded, or at least the newspapers say it was recorded, because I don’t know the wiretaps. All I know is what I read in the newspapers – that a defendant says: let’s get the politicians involved so we can control this narrative. I read this in a newspaper. I don’t know if it’s true or not because I don’t have access to the wiretaps”said Antonio Costa.
The Prime Minister said he did not know whether or not João Gomes Cravinho was a victim of the actions of those suspected of committing crimes in this trial, emphasizing the principle that no one is above the law.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that if there is evidence regarding Minister João Cravinho, or regarding me, or anyone else, it is not because I am Prime Minister, or he is a Minister, or anyone else, the justice will stop. to trade. Therefore, justice will occur and I will not anticipate justice”he said.
António Costa then noted that, from what he read, “There are some gentlemen who are defendants and who say in conversations between them that they want to involve the minister so that they have a protective shield”.
‘If that’s what they call it [João Gomes Cravinho] involved, we are all involved in something”shot to António Costa, “If the Public Prosecution Service has something to point out to Minister João Cravinho or someone else, act”.
“And then I will evaluate. I have already said that for me it is not a criterion for a person to be accused to have to leave the government, because the status of accused was created to protect those who are under investigation. Being accused is not a prior conviction, he emphasized. In this context, the Prime Minister again used the idea that he does not interfere with the judiciary.
“And I am sure that the judiciary does not get involved in politics or is guided by political criteria. Therefore, depending on what happens, I will evaluate. Now I’m not going to speculate. And I’m much less likely to speculate based on wiretaps that I know nothing about, that objectively no one should know about, and that no one really knows how they end up anywhere criminally.”he reinforced.
At the end of his response, he referred again to the news published last Friday about the ‘Perfect Storm’ process.
“It was one of the defendants who said, let’s get the politicians involved to control the narrative. So, but are we going to adopt a defensive strategy here? A defense strategy that defends itself. I am no one’s defense attorney.”he added.
Source: DN
