The SDP general secretary said this Wednesday that the party “will not allow any ethical or legal violations”, asking for a speedy judicial investigation into the alleged exchange of favors between the party and the PS in the 2017 municipal elections.
Speaking to reporters in parliament, Hugo Soares shared the legal and political plans for the report, which aired Tuesday night on TVI/CNN.
“Firstly, this investigation must be completed quickly, the SDP has been and will be absolutely uncompromising in defending ethical decency, legality and democratic normality,” he said.
The SDP leader emphasized that the process took “five or six years” and “a conclusion must be made to really know what the allegations are and who is responsible for these actions.”
On a political level, Hugo Soares argued that it was necessary to “confirm certain facts so that political consequences can be made”.
“And here I also want to make it absolutely clear on behalf of the SDP: the SDP will be adamant about any ethical violation or any violation of the law. We are gone, this was our behavior, and we will be in any circumstances,” he said.
Hugo Soares did not directly respond to questions about whether the PSD retained its political credibility for MP Carlos Eduardo Reis, or about resignation requests from ministers Fernando Medina or Duarte Cordeiro, who were all mentioned in the televised investigation and denied committing any illegal acts.
“It is absolutely necessary to confirm these facts and put an end to this investigation (…) The SDP has set this example and will always be adamant in defending ethical decency, democratic normality and legality and will not condone any failure,” repeated Hugo Soares.
Already this morning, the chairman of the SDP said in this case: “We cannot agree with the corruption of democracy. We must know the truth and draw conclusions. Justice must be swift and complete this investigation,” he wrote. Luis Montenegro on the social network Twitter.
According to a report released Tuesday evening by TVI/CNN Portugal, Operation Tutti Frutti intercepted telephone conversations and messages that point to an alleged “secret pact” between PSD and PS that each side retains leadership on certain councils. parishes of Lisbon in the 2017 municipal elections.
Referring to having “access to hundreds of wiretapped telephone conversations and email exchanges” as well as “findings by the prosecutor’s office” under Operation Tutti Frutti, TVI/CNN released some of them, centering on the communication of former PSD deputy Sergio Azevedo with other social democrats.
The report cites the name of the current MP, Carlos Eduardo Reis, for allegedly favoring a sports field construction company he owned at the time.
Regarding the reference to the PSD figures, Hugo Soares only said that “in the next few days the party will continue to follow the TVI reports”, admitting that what was known on Tuesday is “seriously”.
Speaking specifically about Sergio Azevedo, Hugo Soares emphasized that he is no longer an MP or leader of the PSD, reiterating that the PSD will be waiting for the completion of the journalistic investigation – TVI/CNN promised more news in the coming days – and, above all, the judicial investigation.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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