Montenegro gives the PGR a “negative rather than positive” rating and wants to reform the justice system, as does the PS.

This Monday, the President of the PSD gave the Attorney General of the Republic a “negative rather than a positive” note, while the Secretary General of the PS rejected direct criticism in a debate in which both agreed on the need to reform the justice system.

These positions were outlined in the latest debates in the expected legislative elections on March 10, which were broadcast simultaneously on TSF, Antena 1, Rádio Observador and Rádio Renascença, with all party leaders having seats in parliament, with the exception of Chegi, in which both The largest political forces – the PS and the SDP – were ready to reform the justice sector.

On this topic, Luis Montenegro, representing the Democratic Alliance (a coalition uniting the Social Democrats, CDS-PP and PPM), was asked to sum up the mandate of the Attorney General of the Republic, Lucilia Gago.

“Finally, this deserves attention, more negative than positive, to put it more bluntly, because as a result of its actions, the prosecutor’s office often saw its conclusions contradict the decisions of the judges. And therefore, from this point of view, in view of this, an expectation is created regarding the charges brought, the imputations that are made even at the procedural stages before the arraignment, which are often not supported,” he replied.

According to Luis Montenegro, “the prosecutor’s office does not exist to accuse, it exists to investigate”, noting that “from a legal point of view there is no problem with a member of parliament in Portugal” and that it “generally speaking works well “.

PS Secretary General Pedro Nuno Santos rejected Lucília Gago’s direct criticism, emphasizing that “there is a mandate that is coming to an end” and that no changes should be announced for now, saying only that there is “an atmosphere of doubt, mistrust” in justice.

The PS wants to “clarify the hierarchy of the public ministry without ever questioning its autonomy,” and Pedro Nuno Santos said the body’s public communications “must be clear.”

According to the socialist leader, “failures in the justice system only serve the truly corrupt people, because they can say in the midst of this confusion that everything is the same, and not everything is the same.”

BE coordinator Mariana Mortagua said justice must have “the ability to dialogue with people and explain processes” and warned that justice is “too expensive.”

IL President Rui Rocha noted that there is a “speed problem” in the sector and criticized the fact that “some parties” are making “instructive decisions that are by their nature preliminary, intermediate in the process, in some cases by the way, question justice”.

“Grading already leads to the temptation to create some polarization based on fairness,” he said.

PCP Secretary General Paulo Raimundo, representing the CDU (PCP/PEV coalition), said that the current problem in the justice sector “is not caused by the absence of pacts,” but rather by “the great pacts between the PS and PEV.” PSD” and criticized legal costs, while PAN’s Ines Souza Real rejected the “politicization of the actions of both the deputy and the PGR” and advocated more funds for justice.

Regarding governance scenarios after March 10, the PSD president again did not clarify whether the PS minority government would be viable in the event of defeat.

The Social Democrat even pointed at PS, accusing Pedro Nuno Santos of having “conflicting versions” of what he would do: “Chega and PS go hand in hand in a confusion of scenarios.”

Pedro Nuno Santos once again criticized Montenegro for not clarifying its position: “This is called flight.”

Montenegro also did not respond when Rui Tavares challenged the right to say whether it would approve a motion to reject a possible left-wing government from Chega.

Regarding the possibility of a written agreement of the left, Pedro Nuno Santos even praised the position of the former President of the Republic, Anibal Cavaco Silva, who in 2015 demanded the signing of commitments from the cunning parties.