The government’s election program proposes to extend anti-corruption rules to parties and introduce criminal liability for illegal enrichment.

The government program presented to the Assembly of the Republic this Wednesday proposes to extend anti-corruption rules to political parties and criminalize illicit enrichment, announcing an “ambitious, rapid and ideally coordinated program” to combat corruption.

The document, which describes corruption as “a serious problem that affects the quality of democracy, the effectiveness of government, the fairness of the distribution of resources and the trust of citizens,” identifies prevention, repression and education as the three pillars of action in this area. .

At the preventive level, the executive branch wants to extend anti-corruption rules to parties, “including in terms of risk prevention plans and codes of conduct” and the termination of the functions of public leaders on a replacement basis for a period of more than nine months, but also to regulate “lobbying” – by creating a General for government organizations the Transparency Register, which is mandatory, publicly available and free.

Regarding issues of conflicts of incompatibility and obstacles for persons holding political positions and senior government positions, extending the “period of aversion” to the exercise of functions in private organizations related to the field of activity, limiting the accumulation of public and private functions that may lead to conflicts of interest, and also “the discipline of gifts and hospitality.”

Preventive measures also include reform of the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MENAC), the Office of Transparency and the Office of Accounts and Political Finance, as well as the use of technology to improve transparency.

Stressing that “lack of transparency and corruption come at a cost to the economy, social cohesion, the country’s international standing and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions,” the government is committed to establishing a dialogue “that mobilizes society and involves all political actors.”

The document provides for strengthening human and technical resources to combat corruption and other crimes in the performance of official duties, tightening the sanctions of the General Regime for the Prevention of Corruption and additional punishment in the form of a ban on holding public office. expansion of premium legal measures to increase the contribution to the establishment of truth in legal proceedings.

The government also wants to set in law a maximum period of 72 hours for a judge to make a decision after an arrest, and for the first judicial interview to be conducted by more than one judge.

Regarding anti-corruption education, the program advocates for the inclusion of curricula on the subject at various levels of education, as well as the dissemination of best practices and success stories in preventing and combating this crime.

The Democratic Alliance (AD) government’s program was approved this Wednesday by the Council of Ministers ahead of two days of debate in Parliament, on Thursday and Friday.

Presidential Minister António Leitan Amaro said the document was based on the AD’s electoral program but included “more than 60 measures from the electoral programs of other parties represented in parliament.”