Union of Justice Workers distances itself from the manifesto on justice

The president of the Union of Judicial Servants (SFJ) said this Friday that the manifesto on the situation in the justice sector, signed by 50 figures, “looks more like a political agenda than anything else” and is late.

“This petition seems outdated and more like a political agenda than anything else, because when they could have contributed to justice reform, they did not,” criticized António Marsal, excluding former PSD leader Rui Rio. which has “long raised the issue” of justice

António Marsal told the Agência Lusa agency that the position of the document’s subscribers is “belated” and “also somewhat suspicious” since it is now only manifested in “reactions to specific cases”, including the trial of influential persons and the Madeira case, given that there was necessity. be lawsuits against “influential people” so that a manifesto appears, also signed by “influential people.”

The SFJ President stressed that he is concerned about the situation with justice even when it concerns ordinary citizens, since “access to justice is a complete misconception.”

“Only the poorest and most underprivileged have access to legal aid, which in Portugal is terrible,” stressed António Marsal, regretting that many of the subscribers who are part of the political and legislative power have done nothing to change the panorama of justice. when responsibility These powers are responsible for the functioning of the prosecutor’s office and the courts, which also approve the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Law on the Organization of Criminal Investigation.

In addition, he recalled that the government must submit the name of the Attorney General of the Republic to the President of the Republic.

In this way, António Marsal distances himself from this manifesto of “influential people”, which, in his opinion, manifests itself in relation to “concrete cases” of justice in which “influential people” also participate.

However, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said this Friday that it is “very concerned” about the situation in which the PS government has abandoned the area, highlighting strikes in the sector, a shortage of judges and court workers, and poor working conditions. courts.

In a comment sent to Lusa about a manifesto signed by 50 figures in favor of a “civil coup” that would put an end to the “troubling inertia” of political agents regarding justice reform, Rita Yudice’s ministry points the finger at the previous leader and says that he is “making every effort to try to solve these problems from the first minute.”

A group of 50 figures called on the President of the Republic, the government and parliament on Thursday to come up with an initiative that, while respecting the independence of the courts, the autonomy of the prosecutor’s office and the guarantees of judicial protection, would resolve the “suffocation” and dysfunctions that have long undermined its effectiveness and public legitimacy.” .