Chega reported to the Constitutional Court the known cases in recent weeks involving members of the government, requesting an investigation to find out whether they “violated the incompatibility regime” and “whether they meet the conditions” to stay in office.
After announcing last week that it would ask the Constitutional Court (TC) to open an investigation over news that the health minister is married to the president of the Association of Nutritionists and managing partner of a company, Chega expanded the request. to other members of the government.
In the letter that Lusa had access to and which, according to a party source, was “followed by post on Thursday” to Palácio Ratton, Chega says that “news have been made public about other members of the government who have allegedly practiced 52/2019”, the regime for the exercise of functions by holders of political positions and high public offices.
The party refers to situations involving the Ministers of Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, and of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, in addition to the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Teresa Coelho, and the Secretary of State for Nature and Forest Conservation, João Paulo Catarino.
There appears to be sufficient evidence for the Constitutional Court to examine whether or not the members of the government in question have violated the incompatibility regime and, consequently, whether they are capable of performing the functions for which they have been appointed. chega .
Thus, the party led by André Ventura asks the TC to open an “investigation to establish the truth and, if confirmed, proceed to the resignation of the members of the government in question”.
In recent weeks, the Ministers of Health, Manuel Pizarro, of Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, and of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, and other members of the executive, have been the subject of doubts about the possibility of overcoming the regime of incompatibilities. have violated .in force applicable to holders of public office.
Marcelo asked parliament to “clarify” the law on incompatibilities
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, António Costa, assured that he has no doubts about the “fairness” of the way the members of the government carry out their functions and said that the executive does not interfere in the dialogues between the President and the Assembly of the Republic.
That same day, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked parliament, as he announced Tuesday, to review the legal regime for incompatibilities and impediments of political office holders, if the Assembly of the Republic “deems such reflection relevant and necessary”.
“In fact, the complex legal tangle in Portuguese society has caused great controversy, in a vital matter for citizens’ trust in the institutions, resulting from a constitutional imposition, doubts expressed even by the advisory council of the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic”, reads a note published today on the website of the Presidency of the Republic.
Source: DN
