President Chegi this Saturday called for “restraint on the part of the President of the Republic” regarding the role of justice in the current context and said that elections in Madeira “are the only possible path.”
At a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Lisbon, Andre Ventura said that “despite the court decisions that have become known in recent days”, following the release of three accused in a corruption case in Madeira, it is important to “understand these signs “whether they are confirmed or not or materialize in the course of a trial and conviction, represent signs that call into question the democratic functioning of the region.”
According to Ventura, keeping the current regional majority in power “or even the possibility of encouraging Miguel Albuquerque to remain in power creates a new system of instability on top of existing instability.”
“Therefore, from our point of view, elections are the only possible path in Madeira,” he said on the day the Republic’s representative in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, announces his decision to resolve the political crisis in the region after resigning. President of the regional government (PSD/SDS-PP), Social Democrat Miguel Albuquerque.
President Chegi once again accused the PS and SDP of trying to “limit the powers of justice.”
“Justice reform is necessary and worth thinking about, but it cannot be carried out with the intention of preventing investigations of politicians or the fact that the political system may also be subject to much less control in moments of open confrontation between the political and judicial powers or the powers of the prosecutor’s office.” , he said.
According to President Chega, “this is a huge mistake at this time, which only contributes to the growing distrust of citizens in Portugal’s institutional policies and our system of separation of powers.”
“Therefore, I urge the President of the Republic to restrain himself in this matter. He who is the highest judge of the country, if he says anything that calls into question the autonomy, capacity or prestige of the prosecutor’s office and the SP, he will irreparably jeopardize the investigations, and may also become an impetus and incentive for impunity on the part of the political system.” , he said.
Ventura considered it important that the head of state “be attentive, but maintain restraint in those moments when a decision on this issue must be awaited by the higher courts.”
“It is important that the decision that the representative of the republic makes today, as well as the support given to him by the president of the republic, does not increase further distrust in institutions,” he believes.
On January 24, the Judicial Police (SP) carried out some 130 searches at home and outside, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the continent, as part of the process of investigating suspicions of active and passive actions. corruption, participation in business economic activities, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantage, abuse of power and undue influence.
Following this operation, the SP detained the then mayor of Funchal Pedro Calado (NSD), who also resigned from his post, the leader of the AFA construction group Avelino Fariña and the main shareholder of the civil engineering group Socicorreia. , Custodio Correia.
The three defendants were released on Wednesday with proof of identity and residence, three weeks after their arrest, following a ruling by a criminal judge who found there was no evidence that “any crime had been committed.”
The prosecutor’s office has already announced that it will appeal the use of a less serious precaution.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR) assured that they are “closely monitoring” the process and sent clarifications if they “consider it appropriate” and whether this will not harm the investigation of the case.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

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