António Costa this Thursday defended the normal functioning of the justice system in the case involving the now former Secretary of State Miguel Alves, former Mayor of Caminha, who was charged with felony by the Public Prosecution Service (MP).
“No one is above the law. The prosecution should investigate what needs to be investigated and ask who should investigate it, and Miguel Alves has the right to the presumption of innocence and to defend himself”he said, at the entrance to the PS headquarters, where the party’s political committee is meeting this Thursday evening.
The prime minister stressed that “defense status does not imply a reduction”, giving his own example: “I have also been charged, but fortunately these cases have been dropped. Being charged is different from being guilty.”
Regarding the investigation, Costa stressed that there has been a reinforcement of resources and personnel in the judicial police recently, as this had not been seen for a long time, and sent a message of solidarity to Miguel Alves: “I want to give you a hug and wish you well.”
Miguel Alves this Thursday tendered his resignation to the head of government, António Costa, after he learned of the accusation.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the former Deputy Undersecretary of State told the Prime Minister: “Given the accusation of the Public Prosecution Service, and although I am not aware of the conditions and assumptions, I believe the conditions in the government of Portugal”.
Regarding the MP’s accusation, Miguel Alves says that “it refers to facts that took place in the years 2015 and 2016 in the exercise of his mandate as Mayor of Caminha” and was “confirmed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic”, Lucília Gago, “after legal contact with the Minister of Justice”, Catarina Sarmento e Castro.
Miguel Alves was mayor of Caminha from 2013 to September this year, after taking over the post of deputy secretary of state to the prime minister on September 16 – a position António Costa initially did not want in the organization of his third executive branch. , founded on March 30.
Miguel Alves has been at the center of controversy over actions he took as Mayor of Caminha City Council and also for impeachment in two lawsuits.
The controversy started when Público reported on October 26 that Miguel Alves had negotiated and signed a contract that forced the municipality of Caminha to advance 300 thousand euros in rent to a businessman for the construction of a cross-border exhibition center in Caminha, a work that has not yet been completed. have started despite the fact that the pledge contract between the promoter and the municipality was signed in 2020.
Source: DN
