The President of the PSD said this Saturday that he is not changing the penal and penal legislation in the heat of the moment and not three weeks before the elections, and believes that the detention time in the case of Madeira was excessive.
“It is not the heat with the specific cases described above, nor the heat three weeks before the legislative elections that changes the architecture of Portuguese criminal law, Portuguese criminal law,” defended Luis Montenegro in statements to journalists this morning.
In Espinho, on the sidelines of the presentation of the candidates of the Democratic Alliance (AD) in Aveiro, the leader of the Social Democrats said that it is his duty to be available “for broader reflection and debate in the post-election period, in order to improve some aspects that are less positive.”
While refusing to address the specific case of Madeira, which culminated in the release after 21 days of detention of former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado and construction businessmen Avelino Fariña and Custodio Correia, Luis Montenegro, however, suggests that the detention time in this process was excessive, exceeding the principles of the law.
“I don’t want to talk about a specific case, but there is no doubt that any Portuguese is surprised that the process has such a sequence and then an excessive period of detention that has no support in what the principles of law are,” said He.
Given that the need to “overhaul” criminal and procedural justice is a “consensus in the justice sector”, the Social Democrat believes that the country has faced some inconsistencies “at times”, although he admits that “The system is designed to respond to procedural progress which may bring each specific case.”
Confirming the availability of the PSD, and now the AD, to interact with “all parties” and, above all, with the local justice authorities, Luis Montenegro emphasizes the importance of ensuring the security of procedures and investigative actions, as well as “respect for the freedom and guarantees of citizens.”
Suggesting that Portugal has seen improvements in the justice sector in recent years, the AD leader believes that it is necessary to “know exactly” where justice stands in various areas, namely criminal and procedural. in which, he admits, “there are some inconsistencies.”
Asked about the decision that will be announced this afternoon to resolve the political crisis in Madeira following the resignation of the president of the regional government (PSD/SDS-PP), Social Democrat Miguel Albuquerque, Luis Montenegro simply said yes. do not have confidential information.
The announcement of the judge-advisor’s decision is scheduled for 15:00 at the Palacio de São Lourenço in Funchal and will take place a day after Ireneu Barreto’s meeting with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in Lisbon.
Following the dismissal of the leader of the regional executive, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), named as a defendant in the context of the process to investigate suspicions of corruption in Madeira, the representative of the Republic heard last week the parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of the region.
On January 24, the Judicial Police (SP) carried out some 130 searches at home and outside, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the continent, as part of the process of investigating suspicions of active and passive actions. corruption, participation in business economic activities, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantage, abuse of power and undue influence.
Following this operation, the SP detained the then mayor of Funchal Pedro Calado (NSD), who also resigned from his post, the leader of the AFA construction group Avelino Fariña and the main shareholder of the civil engineering group Socicorreia. , Custodio Correia.