The President of the Bar Association (BA) said on Wednesday that she was “hopeful” about the government’s initiative to develop a package of anti-corruption measures in consultation with MPs, bailiffs and civil society.
Speaking to Lusa, Fernanda de Almeida Pinheiro said she appreciated the initiative, especially “in terms of listening to the judiciary”, but countered that it was then necessary to act by investing and providing the justice sector with “human resources, logistics and resources, appropriate tools and experts”, since otherwise it is “impossible” to achieve the goal of fighting corruption.
“Unfortunately, the problem of justice is not limited to the issue of corruption,” the president emphasized, recalling that Portugal already has “advanced” legislation in terms of combating corruption, despite the need to make some “adjustments” and “speed up procedures.”
According to Fernanda de Almeida Pinheiro, the problem of corruption must be fought in three aspects: prevention, education and through the courts, but in order to “act” it is necessary for the government to provide funds, especially since this type of crime is “difficult to investigate.”
“We are all on the same side” in the fight against corruption, the president emphasized, stressing, however, that for many years they have been warning about the “lack of funds” for this purpose.
Fernanda de Almeida Ribeiro said she would soon ask for a meeting with the new Justice Minister Rita Giudice to talk about “unfinished legal issues” as well as the lawyers’ pension fund.
Today the government decided to instruct Justice Minister Rita Judice to talk to all parties with seats in parliament, representatives of the justice sector and civil society in order to develop a package of measures against corruption.
This decision was announced by Presidential Minister António Leitan Amaru at a press conference after the first meeting of the Council of Ministers of the XXIV Constitutional Government, noting that the process will begin immediately after the parliament takes office.
“We will quickly approve a package of ambitious, effective and coordinated measures to combat corruption,” the minister said.
The anti-corruption package was already announced by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in his inaugural speech.
“The goal is to synthesize, within two months, proposals, measures and initiatives that can be agreed upon and reached consensus, after due verification of their coherence, credibility and feasibility,” he said, asserting that “no one has a monopoly ” about the best solutions.”
From now on, he added, the executive branch will focus on approving relevant laws “either at the proposal of the government or at the initiative of parliament.”
The Assembly of the Republic will discuss the program of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 11 and 12, the document will be presented on April 10.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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