The President of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos e Silva, defended, this Wednesday, the principle of the presumption of innocence regarding the police investigation of the PSD on suspicion of crimes of embezzlement and abuse of powers.
“It is not the fact that an ongoing investigation has come to light, it is not the fact that investigations, inquiries, including searches have been carried out, which means that responsibilities are cleared”, he told journalists in London, on the sidelines of a visit. to the British Parliament.
Santos e Silva stressed that “until responsibilities are cleared, everyone is innocent – I repeat, all are innocent”.
“The fact that an investigation is being conducted does not mean that there is even the formation of guilt. And after the formation of guilt and the accusation, there will be a trial and only at the end, if the judgment results in the investigation of undue facts and the accountability of those responsible is that we can talk about possible stains, stains, cases or whatever”, he added.
PJ carried out searches at Rui Rio’s house and PSD headquarters
The Judiciary Police (PJ) today mobilized around 100 inspectors and experts to search the house of former PSD president Rui Rio and the party’s national headquarters, on suspicion of crimes of embezzlement and abuse of powers.
In question, according to CNN, which has been live since the beginning of the searches, are suspected of an alleged misuse of public funds, through funds from the Assembly of the Republic defined for the advisory of parliamentary groups and which would be used to pay party officials who would not work in Parliament.
The President of the Assembly also reaffirmed the separation of powers in Portugal, in which Justice has autonomy from political power.
“Parliament cooperates with judicial entities to the extent that judicial entities need collaboration with Parliament”, he guaranteed.
Both Rui Rio and deputy and former deputy general secretary of the PSD Hugo Carneiro denied having committed irregularities.
Processo Football Leaks
The president of parliament also commented, with regard to the postponement, on Monday, of the reading of the judgment of the Football Leaks case, that the law for amnesty of criminal penalties related to the Pope’s visit to Portugal has not yet been approved.
“The debate on the specialty is now taking place. Parliament will approve it or not next week, probably on the 19th of July. What is taking place is a normal process of drafting a democracy law”, he explained.
The proposed law for amnesty conceived on the occasion of World Youth Day may cover the vast majority of crimes imputed to Rui Pinto in the Football Leaks trial, in view of the order made by the judge.
Chief Judge Margarida Alves, of the Lisbon Central Criminal Court, argued that Rui Pinto, 34 years old, is “covered by the scope of application of the said law” due to his age at the time of the facts imputed in this case.
Santos e Silva stresses, however, that it is necessary to wait for the final text to be approved, namely to find out whether the age limit will be 30 years old, given that the diploma has already been voted on in general by parliament and is now being analyzed by the Constitutional Matters, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees.
“Until the law is approved by parliament and promulgated by the President of the Republic, it is not in force and, therefore, one can only speak of possible difficulties in application once the law is published”, he explained.
Santos Silva is in London for an official visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons. The President of the Assembly of the Republic traveled accompanied by deputies Sérgio Sousa Pinto (PS and president of the Portugal-United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Group), Joaquim Miranda Sarmento (PSD parliamentary leader), João Dias (PCP) and Isabel Pires (BE).
2023-07-12 17:15:36
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