PS proposed criminalizing discrimination based on “political or ideological opinions”, but refused

The PS proposed criminalizing discrimination based on “political or ideological opinion” but ultimately backed down in Tuesday’s debate under criticism from the opposition, namely the PSD, which accused the Socialists of wanting a “return to the Estado Novo.” “.

Disagreement erupted Tuesday in parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees over the government’s proposed legislation, which would, among other things, expand the scope of the crimes of discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence.

The amendments submitted by the CoP to this proposed law stated that discrimination against a person or group of people would be subject to criminal penalties based on various factors, including their “political or ideological beliefs” – the government’s original version said “political or ideological beliefs” – or even under their “education, economic status, social status, or under the pretext of collective guilt based on any of these factors.”

The socialist proposal also proposed that if the alleged crime was committed “through the means of social communication”, the punishment would be “increased by a third in the minimum and maximum limits” – a proposal that was not initially withdrawn until the end of the debate , also ended in decline.

At the very beginning of the debate on the specialty, Socialist deputy Pedro Delgado Alves announced the rejection of the part referring to “political or ideological convictions, education, economic situation, social position or under the pretext of collective guilt based on any of these factors.” ” so as not to create “mistakes” or “more doubt” by defending the objectives of the initiative presented by the executive branch.

Despite this refusal, PSD deputy Monica Quintela sharply criticized the issue, considering it “unbelievable that the government had the courage” to propose what she called a “blue pencil” and “a return to what existed in the Estado Novo.” “.

The Social Democrat accused the Socialist Party of simply withdrawing the proposal in the face of “the public outcry that arose at the time.”

In the same vein, MP Rita Mathias from Chegi accused the PS of being “moving in the wrong direction”, speaking of “failure”, while Liberal Initiative MP Patricia Gilvaz spoke of the PS’s “attempt to silence the Portuguese”. and Social Communication”.

“Who does the PS want to silence? Does she want to silence the Portuguese, her political opponents? This is an attack on the freedom of speech of the Portuguese, deputies, politicians who defend ideological beliefs,” he fired.

The final proposal, removing some of the socialist amendments, was approved unanimously.

The text establishes that anyone who “founds or establishes an organization or carries out propaganda activities that incites or encourages discrimination, hatred or violence against a person or group of people on the basis of ethnicity, race, national or religious origin, color, nationality” is punishable imprisonment for a term of one to eight years.

Anyone who provokes acts of violence against people based on these criteria, defames or insults, threatens or incites discrimination, hatred or violence against people or groups of these categories, is punishable by imprisonment from six months to five years.