Aguiar-Branco refuses to convict deputies and says it should be up to the prosecutor’s office to assess whether crimes have been committed.

The President of the Assembly of the Republic said this Friday that it is not his responsibility to censor the positions or opinions of deputies, referring any possible criminal liability for parliamentary speeches to the prosecutor’s office.

Answering questions from reporters, Aguiar-Branco said he made a mistake by allowing Chega leader Andre Ventura to continue his intervention in the morning, saying that “Turks are not exactly known as the hardest working people.” in the world.”

“I don’t think I make a mistake when I allow freedom of expression (…) If a crime is committed in the responsible or irresponsible exercise of freedom of expression, the prosecutor’s office has the conditions to initiate a criminal case. Any citizen can file a corresponding complaint and can ask for lifting parliamentary immunity,” he said.

The President of Parliament stated that “it is not the table of the Assembly of the Republic that is a government ministry, a police station or a people’s court.”

“I have to ensure that from left to right there is freedom of expression, I cannot be the one to classify freedom of expression or opinion as a crime or not,” he said.

Aguiar-Branco said that the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic are “very clear” and when it comes to insult or slander, “it means insult and slander that are practiced against another deputy.”

“It is unacceptable that an MP can insult another MP,” he said, calling on the parties to reconsider the Standing Orders if they have a different understanding and warning that “they all have glass ceilings.”

Asked whether the President of the Assembly should not intervene in cases of insult or slander against other citizens or nationalities, Aguiar-Branco replied that he adheres to the position of PS MP Isabel Moreira.

“I follow Congresswoman Isabel Moreira when she once said that our Constitution prohibits fascist and racist organizations, but it does not prohibit anyone’s individual expressions regarding fascism or racism, which would be censorship,” he said.

And he gave an example: “I cannot censor anyone who says Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip – and at the same time has a hostile attitude towards the country – I cannot and should not, when I want to participate in the debate, I am leaving the presidency Assembly of the Republic.”

“It’s hard for me not to understand that I can’t be a censor of free speech,” he said, insisting that his role is to ensure that ideas about equal opportunity for all sides are opposed.

Aguiar-Branco reiterated that the Constitution does not say that “freedom of expression is conditional,” only the criminal practice of such expression can be assessed.

“You will never see this Assembly President and his interpretation being responsible for shaping the debate,” he said.

Aguiar-Branco said he has no problem with the topic being discussed at the leadership conference, as proposed by the PS and supported by various left benches.

“If there are those who understand that the Standing Orders need to be changed, even in the sense that the President of the Assembly has the power to censor, let them propose it,” he said.

The President of Parliament recalled that the current Assembly of the Republic is “an expression of the popular will of the Portuguese people” and expressed the opinion that when voters go to the polls again, they will evaluate “the way their representatives act” in parliament.

“I think it’s up to me, whoever it is, B.E. to Chegi, who can speak so that he can be heard. “Everyone has their own glass ceilings, self-regulation, self-discipline will be the best way to have a democratic debate, which can be heated, but it doesn’t have to be an exaggerated expression of emotions,” he said.