The Civil Front says the President of the Republic has lost moral legitimacy

The President of the Civil Front considered this Saturday that the President of the Republic has lost his “moral” legitimacy and is “mortally wounded” in the performance of his duties, and invites Parliament to investigate a possible crime related to influence peddling in the performance of his duties.

“At this point, dignity has already been completely lost. We are in a situation with an outgoing government, an Assembly that is at the end of its cycle, it is obvious that the President cannot at this moment, let’s say, allow power to pass to the street, but in a more normal situation it is clear that the President faces Parliament would have to explain all these situations, because when the President of the Republic puts himself in the position of examining individual cases, this is the recognition of the highest magistrate of the country, who admits that the institutions are not working,” said Paulo Morais on the sidelines of the celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day in Povoa de Varzim.

When asked by journalists whether the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has the legitimacy to remain in office, Paulo Morais replied that he has no “moral legitimacy” and, he added, that the President of the Republic “does not have in his expected functions either in the Constitution , we cannot drive a wedge in any other piece of legislation.”

“There is no morality. Naturally, there is formal legitimacy. He was elected, he was not fired, until parliament decides and investigates any possible crime the president commits, he has legitimacy. The problem of the legitimacy of the president, in truth, is not even the president. If someone wants to question the legitimacy of the president, and in fact he is mortally wounded in the way he carries out his mandate, but the person who should question the formal legitimacy of the president is the parliament, which can request an investigation into a possible crime, related to influence trading in the exercise of presidential functions,” said Paulo Morais.

The city of Póvoa de Varzim was chosen to host Portugal’s celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day during the session marking the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The organization is organized by the associations Frente Cívica, Transparência Internacional Portugal and APIT (Association of Tax and Customs Professionals) with the support of the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim.