Justice Minister Rita Yudice began this Friday a meeting with the parties to reach a broad consensus around the anti-corruption legislative package announced by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in his welcoming speech.
Looking at all the opposition’s election programmes, the most agreed upon proposal overall is regulation of lobbying, supported by the PS, IL, Livre and PAN. Only the PKP categorically refuses to “legalize the crime of trading in influence under the guise of lobbying.”
Livre proposes to promote legislation on illegal or unjust enrichment. In this matter, BE defends asset forfeiture, while Chega wants to make it a crime to illegally enrich oneself while exercising public or political positions.
Another point of possible convergence is the increase in the “period of aversion” to the exercise of functions in private structures related to the sphere of activity of holders of political positions and senior government positions. PAN proposes to increase the above-mentioned period from three to eight years, and BE – to six years.
But opposition parties are also putting forward a number of proposals that are less likely to find consensus.
Chega intends to “reform the system of seizure, confiscation and return” of assets before final sentencing for economic and financial crimes. And he advocates increasing penalties and statutes of limitations for crimes related to influence peddling, receiving or offering improper advantages, corruption and economic involvement in business.
The Liberal Initiative proposes that ministers should be heard beforehand in the Assembly of the Republic to assess their “suitability for this role.”
BE supports the Transparency Authority’s “vetting of the assets and income of political officials and senior government officials.”
The PCP advocates “prohibiting commercial relationships with tax havens in non-cooperative jurisdictions” and “creating mandatory registration and taxation of transfers to other tax havens.”
Livre wants to create an independent government agency that would centralize the functions of the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism, the Office of Political Accounts and Finance and the Office of Transparency.
This Friday, the Minister of Justice met with the SDP, PS and Chega. Meetings are scheduled for Monday with IL, BE, PCP, Livre, CDS and PAN.
Author: Miguel Bravo Morais This Sarah Reis Teixeira
Source: CM Jornal
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