Raimundo says regulating “lobbying” is legalizing crime

The general secretary of the PCP, Paulo Raimundo, spoke this Sunday in Faro against the projects of other parties to regulate “lobbying”, as he considers it the “legalization of crime”, promising to fight these proposals.

“What’s remarkable is that in the face of these deals that are now coming to the fore, in the face of debauchery, in the face of influence peddling, in the face of all of this, what we want to do today is simply legalize every single one of these crimes is on first place,” said Paulo Raimundo.

Speaking at a lunch in Faro attended by about 300 people, the communist leader stressed that those “who fill their mouths and chests” with words about fighting corruption want to “legalize everyone and everyone.” one of the crimes that is there.”

“This is what they want with the help of so-called “lobbying” regulation, this is what the PS wants with its project, the SDP with its project, Chega with its project and the Liberal Initiative with its project,” he continued, promising to fight against these proposals.

“Lobbying,” which consists of activating mechanisms of interest representation to influence public and political decisions, is an activity that several parties, with the exception of the PCP and the Esquerda Bloc, have already said they will try to regulate in the next legislature.

In Portugal, “lobbying” was already close to regulation, but Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa vetoed this diploma in 2019, and in 2021 the attempt to regulate the activity was again interrupted by the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic.

“They can be very loud, they can shout a lot, they can shout, but justice and fight, justice and fair fight against corruption is on our side, on the side of the people, on the side of the people. workers, and we won’t let that happen. Legalize crime,” insisted Paulo Raimundo.

According to the Secretary General of the PCP, responsibility for the situation in which the country finds itself lies with the PS, PSD, SDS, Liberal Initiative and Chege, who are “head over heels committed” to the guiding principles and practices that led Portugal to the current situation.

“And it’s surprising that we don’t hear a word, not a single word from this group of parties and forces about what is the biggest hotbed of corruption in our country, namely privatization. Not a word about negotiations and corruption, which is directly related to privatization. This is absolute silence, and we understand why,” he emphasized.

According to Paulo Raimundo, this silence is due to the fact that PS, PSD, Chega, the Liberal Initiative and CDS are “all committed to their cause”, are “accomplices” and propagandists of “this genuine economic, financial and political crime that was and remains privatization ” “, and that’s why they don’t say anything.”