Court officials accuse PGR of ‘shaking water off coat’

The President of the Union of Judicial Officers (SFJ) accused the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) this Monday of “shaking the water out of the bag” for judicial officials in media cases that have led to criticism of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP).

Lucilia Gago said in an interview with RTP1, her first since taking over as PGR in 2018, that it was “outrageous and shocking” that there were citizens in custody who were not being questioned because of a strike by judicial officials, referring to the case investigating corruption allegations in Madeira, where three defendants were held for about three weeks before learning of the coercive measures.

“I watched the interview with complete disbelief, to use another expression. It does not correspond to the truth in the slightest, and the GGR should have known it. My colleagues – both in that operation and in the two others you mentioned, Operation Influencer and the work with the FC Porto support team – they went well beyond their working hours to ensure that the deadlines were not extended,” António Marcal told Lusa.

According to SFJ leader Lucilia Gago, she “missed the opportunity” to publicly denounce the lack of judicial officials who could support parliamentary magistrates in their investigations and to hold political power responsible for this situation.

“What the PGR did was to put the onus on those who go above and beyond what they are professionally required to do. They tried to shake the cape on the weakest link, which is the bailiffs. Tell the truth,” he stressed.

António Marcal also criticized the PGR for what he considered to be a “proposal” to the political power to impose a “restriction on the right to strike for bailiffs” when he drew a parallel with hospitals and said it was unacceptable for anyone to move and not see a solution to their problem despite the strikes.

“This is intolerable and unacceptable in the 21st century. Instead of coming to the defense of the institution it represents, it has become even more noisy,” he noted, stressing: “I think it was a runaway and that it has nothing to communicate.” And this is another mistake, since the strikes were recognized as valid under the conditions under which they are carried out by the higher court.”

According to the union leader, Lucilia Gago made a “failed move” in publicly defending the deputy.

António Marcal also criticized the timing of the television interview before appearing in parliament to give clarifications, as well as the way Lucilia Gago responded to some of the criticism leveled at her in recent months.

“The PGR is not responsible for anything, it is not guilty of anything. When it was silent, it stirred up this noise, now that it speaks, it brings even more noise and does not protect what was important to protect, which was the institution of parliament and which is of decisive importance in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, so that justice functions correctly,” he said.