The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, promulgated this Monday a parliamentary decree that strengthens the fight against the so-called “revolving doors” between political offices and private companies, although he indicated “potential doubts” regarding its application.
The decree, which increases the period of disqualification from three to five years for those who do not comply with the obstruction regime and penalizes the companies involved, was approved in a final global vote on January 11, with PS, Chega, BE voting in favor. , PAN and Livre, abstaining from the SDP and the PCP and voting against the Liberal Initiative.
According to a note published on the official website of the President of the Republic on the Internet, the head of state decided to make it public “despite potential doubts regarding the expected application of obstacles to entities, especially private ones, that employ former shareholders.” political positions in violation of this regime, but taking into account in particular the importance of increasing transparency and the obstacles inherent in the exercise of political positions and high public positions.”
The current regime for the exercise of public functions no longer allowed former holders of political positions of an executive nature to perform “functions in private companies operating in the sector” for three years after the termination of their mandate. directly to them, under the supervision and who, during the period of this mandate, were the subject of privatization operations, benefited from financial incentives or systems of incentives and tax benefits of a contractual nature, or in respect of which there was direct intervention by the holder of a political office.”
The decree promulgated this Monday expands the application of this obstacle, establishing that former political office holders cannot perform functions in these companies “either on their own or through an organization in which they hold a share.”
On the other hand, the prohibition on holding political positions and high public positions for those who do not comply with this obstacle is exacerbated, moving from “a period of three years” to “three to five years.”
In the new rule, the law also begins to penalize “entities that employ former political office holders in violation of the provisions” of the regime, determining that “they are prevented from benefiting from financial incentives or incentive schemes and contract tax benefits.” nature for three to five years.”
The final text of this decree, which strengthens the sanctions regime to combat revolving doors, was the result of a legislative process in the Commission on Transparency and Statute of Deputies based on the PKP bill, which was amended by the PS.
The PKP intended, among other changes, to increase the ban on former political officials to five years, and for companies that hired them in violation of the law to oblige them to return support or funds from which they benefited through a direct or indirect decision from the above-mentioned holder, proposals that were not implemented.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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