Ventura says they want to get the message out that there is a “new PIDE” to go after politicians.

Chega President André Ventura said on Tuesday that an interview with the republic’s attorney general shows that the justice system feels conditioned and believes they want to convey the idea that there is a “new PIDE”.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, the Chegi leader said that when the republic’s attorney general mentioned the existence of an “organized campaign” against the public ministry, “this means that the members themselves felt that a political force had joined or articulated itself to cause pressure, damage, an attempt to achieve justice.”

“Justice seemed to be conditioned, hijacked,” he insisted, believing that both agents of justice and politicians “must be punished.”

Recalling the statements of the President of the Republic, who considered it “Machiavellian” to say that the investigation into the twins’ case was opened on the day that António Costa left the government, or the manifesto of justice reform, Ventura claimed that the prosecutor “for some reason says that there is an organized campaign against those who carry out investigations.”

Regarding the wiretapping of telephone conversations, André Ventura stated that “it is not only the prosecutor’s office that intervenes in long-term wiretapping of telephone conversations” and that for this to happen, “the intervention of several magistrates, namely investigating judges,” is necessary.

“That means that the evidence that exists is there, it is strong because the law requires it, and it is worth considering. If we start saying that there are no politicians, we will create a society in which politicians cannot be investigated, but everyone else can be investigated,” he stressed.

“This campaign is organised by everyone to convey the idea that there is a kind of new PIDE, a new political police that is persecuting politicians,” he said.

President Chegi considered that “the idea has finally been abandoned” that the point in the statement by the Ministry of Public Prosecution, which led to the resignation of the previous prime minister, “was made for political purposes.”

André Ventura said that Lucilia Gago explained that “the law is the same for everyone” and “no one is above the law” and that when someone is handed over, “the prosecutor’s office has to start an investigation and that was what was most needed. “Not to communicate with the country and give the impression that you are defending someone.”

According to Ventura, this is exactly what happened in the case of António Costa, and his dismissal was “a personal and political act.”

The leader of Chega also said that Lucilia Gago “could have spoken out a long time ago” and reiterated that at the hearings in parliament it makes sense for the prosecutor “to come to parliament to talk about the performance report, the resources she lacks to carry out her role and the independence of public service.”

In an interview with RTP on Monday evening, the Republic’s attorney general said she had never considered resigning, claimed there was an “organized campaign” against the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PP) and addressed the Justice Minister’s claims of “putting house in order” in the PP.

Lucilia Gago also said the investigation under Operation Influencer against the former prime minister was “still ongoing” and denied any “special care”, saying that António Costa was treated like anyone else in the event of a complaint or suspicion of a crime.