Justice Minister Catarina Sarmento e Castro announced this Thursday her intention to improve asset recovery mechanisms as part of the fight against corruption, acknowledging that the phenomenon cannot be tackled through laws alone.
In his speech at the National Headquarters of the Judicial Police (JP) within the framework of the conference “State order and risks of corruption”, the Minister confirmed that the fight against corruption-related crime is a “priority” for the executive branch. despite emphasizing that it must be a struggle for the whole of society.
“We intend to improve the mechanisms for the return of assets – and here to fight economic and financial crimes where they are most painful for those who practice them – in your pocket,” said Catarina Sarmento y Castro, noting that this fight finds reflected in the “strengthening of the quality of democracy” and in the “full realization of the rule of law”.
For the justice minister, corruption is still “an issue of mentality, culture and practice that needs to be rooted out”, but she defended the government’s efforts to include this fight in criminal policy in order to encourage “zero tolerance, which is due to a culture of transparency and honesty”.
In this sense, the Minister highlighted the approval of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and the strengthening of human and technological means for its full implementation, as an example with the introduction of about 1100 elements in the PS until 2026, as well as the training of more magistrates of the Ministry of Public (PM).
Turning to the issue of public procurement, which she admits is “one of the areas most prone to corruption”, Catarina Sarmento i Castro referred to European data, noting that the value of public contracts already amounts to more than 16% of the GDP of the European Union. , in excess of two billion euros, and explained that crime of this level has a “devastating” effect on society.
“The confidence of citizens in the impartiality and seriousness of the public administration has been undermined, and the image and prestige of the state has been irreparably damaged,” said the minister, who, despite appreciating the impact of the Code of Public Contracts, did not fail to emphasize: “Even if the laws are improved, as it was done, corruption is not a purely legislative problem.”
Finally, the Minister announced that she would submit proposals in the field of ad hoc arbitration courts in order to strengthen the obligation to inform the prosecutor’s office and increase the level of transparency of decisions in these courts.
CSO // FPA
Lusa/The End
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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