The candidate for the post of PS Secretary General, Pedro Nuno Santos, conceded on Thursday a reform of the justice system, but argued that it should not be linked to specific legal cases.
“It is clear that we need to continually look at it and reform it in all areas of our lives, and justice is clearly one of them. Let us not limit the debate about justice and legal reforms to one specific case, this is a disservice.” , said the former minister.
Pedro Nuno Santos spoke to journalists outside Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, after lunch with socialist leader and president of Sedes – Association for Economic and Social Development, Álvaro Beleza.
“Too often we have legislated based on events and media cases. This is not how it is done, how we legislate and how we govern. And that’s why we have to discuss justice, we have to think about justice, but disconnected from lawsuits that makes sense,” to maintain.
The candidate for the PS leadership argued that “the separation of powers in Portugal must be taken seriously”.
Asked about the statements of the Attorney General of the Republic – who refused to clarify whether they were received by the President of the Republic at the proposal of the Prime Minister, after the searches and arrests of Operation Influencer became known – Pedro Nuno Santos declined to comment to give.
“I have no comment on this subject. I think it is important that the process is ended as quickly as possible, as soon as possible, because the Portuguese people need this, democracy, the rule of law, the confidence of the Portuguese people in the institutions and therefore: the sooner we get a result can achieve, the better,” he stated.
Pedro Nuno Santos pointed out that “specific legal cases are emerging” and opined that “no candidate for prime minister should comment on a process that is still ongoing.”
“There are two principles of the rule of law that are fundamental to me: the presumption of innocence and the independence of the judiciary. I will respect this to the end.” indicated.
Also speaking about health, the candidate for the position of Secretary General of the PS pointed out that the National Health Service (SNS) “has problems, they are known, they have been diagnosed” and they need to be solved.
“But solving the SNS’s problems cannot be done by giving up the SNS, as the PSD and the rest of the right want to do. Solving the problems is done through reforms, but by preserving the nature of our SNS, which is the biggest. achievement that the Portuguese people have achieved and that you cannot lose,” he defended.
Asked about his opponent José Luís Carneiro’s proposal to deepen the state’s agreements with the União das Misericórdias Portuguesas and with the Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) in health care, Pedro Nuno Santos opined that “no one can be excluded of health care reform”. national healthcare system”, but it is necessary to “look after the NHS”.
“And not giving up on the SNS is looking at its ability to do what it is still not doing, and there is a lot of work that the SNS can do, and we want to reform the SNS,” he indicated, considering that the reorganization implemented by the current government is “fundamental”.
The former Infrastructure Minister also felt it was necessary to “reach an agreement with the doctors as quickly as possible” and said he had “great confidence in the Minister of Health, in his political and negotiating skills”.
“If he has the conditions to do so, I have no major doubts that we will reach this agreement,” he said, but declined to make “any commitment on concrete demands.”
“We have a country that has a budget constraint that must be respected, but within the framework of this constraint we must make a real effort to reach an agreement, because the survival of the SNS and the success of the reorganization reform of the SNS depends on this agreement”he emphasized.
So far, three candidates have been nominated for the socialist direct elections on December 15 and 16: the current Minister of the Interior, José Luís Carneiro, the former Minister of Infrastructure Pedro Nuno Santos and Daniel Adrião, leader of the minority line opposed to the current general. secretary, António Costa.????????
Source: DN
