SDP excludes deputies convicted at first instance or who have “strong evidence” of a crime against the state

The SDP will exclude from its lists of parliamentary candidates for the next legislative elections anyone who has been “convicted in the first instance, declared” or against whom there is “strong evidence” of committing a crime against the state.

This is one of the criteria approved by the National Political Commission (CPN), which met last week, to draw up the lists of candidates for the March 10 legislative elections, published this Monday by the Jornal de Notícias and the one to which Lusa had access. .

“For the SDP, the ethical aspect is no less. With full respect for the presumption of innocence and the separation of powers, we understand that there is an ethical aspect that must be taken into account,” explained PSD Secretary General Hugo Soares. , in a statement to Lusa.

The SDP leader clarified that these criteria apply “to convictions and final charges for acts committed in the performance of public functions.”

“Situations will always be evaluated from an ethical point of view,” he added.

Thus, in the approved criteria there is a chapter devoted to “ethical requirements”, according to which persons “convicted in the first instance, convicted or subject to coercive measures depriving of liberty due to the presence of compelling evidence of committing a crime against the state, including crimes against the rule of law or crimes committed in the performance of public functions.”

Candidates for parliament will have to take an “oath of honor” that they will suspend their mandate if one of these situations arises in the exercise of their functions, “until the case is closed or until the court makes a decision on acquittal, refusal to bring charges or withdrawal or revocation ” abolition accordingly of coercive measures associated with deprivation of liberty.”

This pledge of honor will also include a guarantee against “professional representation of private, private or public, individual or collective interests in public organizations at the national, regional or local level.”

Parliamentary candidates are also committed to complying with the Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians and the future SDP Ethics and Political Appointments Regulations, which were approved by Congress on November 25 and have yet to be drafted.

In the approved discussion, the CPN determined that the proposed lists to be presented to the National Council “shall be in accordance with the spirit and general guiding principles contained in the recent statutory discussion of the PSD National Congress of November 25, 2023, which was approved by a very large majority, namely regarding the role various bodies in the process of preparing the lists.”

In other words, although the new statutes had not yet entered into force at the time of approval of the SDP list of deputies, this discussion of the CPN intends to be guided by the future rule on the maximum quota for the leadership in the selection of parliamentary candidates (up to two thirds of the total).

Until now, the SDP charter had not defined any restrictions on the selection of candidates by the CPN, and this decision was left to the discretion of each leadership, which in practice could impose restrictions only on the heads of the list or on all candidates.

As PSD President Luis Montenegro told SIC last week, the criteria approved by the CPN include the proposal to include independent individuals “with recognized competence, personal, political or professional merit” on the lists.

When compiling the lists, the leadership undertakes to “provide for a balanced composition of the Parliamentary Group”, covering various areas of sectoral specialization of the Parliament, as well as “maintaining gender representation and ensuring an adequate age distribution of candidates”, as well as “promoting adequate personal and generational updating of the lists of candidates for deputies”.

The discussion also included an obligation of honor for future SDP deputies to observe voting discipline on issues such as the Government Program, in case it is subject to voting, the State Budget and Stability Program, strengthening laws on values, proposals. censure and confidence, referendum initiatives or “any others that will be determined at the plenary meeting of the Parliamentary Group.”

“Without prejudice to the right to disagree on matters of conscience, candidates for parliament must also undertake that whenever issues considered important to national policy are at stake, they will be replaced in accordance with the rules to ensure the position of the party at the time voting,” the CPN decision also states.

Candidates for parliament “must also undertake to renounce their mandate in the event of a persistent discrepancy between the general guidelines of the Parliamentary Group and their individual position.”