Fifty young people sign new manifesto in support of justice reform

Fifty young people signed a manifesto published this Thursday in support of justice reform and in defense of the democratic rule of law, joining the recently published Manifesto 50.

The “Manifesto of 50” was launched at the beginning of May, when a group of 50 personalities signed a document in support of a “civil revolution” that would put an end to the “worrisome inertia” of political agents regarding justice reform. An appeal to the President of the Republic, the Government and Parliament.

This new manifesto, which now includes 50 young people, is led by the President of the National Youth Council, André Cardoso, and is signed mainly by lawyers, former MPs, academics, mayors, students and members of associations.

In the document, the young people consider it necessary to actively support the challenge of the previous document, “recognising, on the one hand, the relevance of the Manifesto 50 and the courage of its signatories, and on the other hand, supporting the continuation of a broad debate and deep understanding among the current party leaders in order to reform and improve the Portuguese justice system once and for all.”

“In the same courageous spirit and refusal to be swayed by the inertia that has characterized recent years in relation to justice, we are interested in supporting the so-called Manifesto of the 50s and emphasizing a number of aspects that genuine justice reform must address, with implications for the future of our country and, therefore, for the future life of Portugal’s youth,” they write.

The signatories state that for young people too, “justice is a fundamental pillar of the democratic rule of law, being a key element for full citizenship and for the country’s own competitiveness,” and “it is indisputable that the justice system acquires extraordinary importance within the sphere of functioning of any democratic regime, namely its development and political, economic and social consolidation.”