The Transparency Entity has informed the parliamentary committee on Transparency that, unlike previous years, only members of parliament will be granted access to the electronic platform for reviewing interest registers of lawmakers and government members, excluding parliamentary advisors.
Contacted by Lusa, the president of the parliamentary committee on Transparency, Rui Paulo Sousa (Chega), confirmed this communication’s contents, expressing concerns that it “could undermine the efficient work of the committee, especially in a timely manner.”
“The work is extensive. We are talking about hundreds of interest registers. Advisors for the working group on interest registers have been collaborating, and they are appointed by various parties for this specific task,” Rui Paulo Sousa stated, emphasizing that it concerns the interest registers of lawmakers and government members.
The Transparency Entity cites the law to deny access to parliamentary advisors, noting that “section 13, article 17 of Law No. 52/2019, of July 31, stipulates that only the parliamentary committee responsible for applying the Statute of Deputies has real-time electronic access to the declaration of interests submitted by Members of Parliament and government members.”
“We are not challenging the law, the law must be complied with, but it has not been followed in recent years. Why is it being invoked now?” Rui Paulo Sousa argued.
The president of the Transparency committee emphasizes that it does not concern “private matters” such as financial or real estate assets, but only data that by law will be public, such as previous jobs, participation in companies, among other information.
“I expressed discomfort with this interpretation by the Transparency Entity, which I have communicated to the lawmakers. The committee is sovereign, and the decision on this issue will have to be made by the committee,” he said regarding future procedures, adding that the topic will be discussed at the first meeting in September.
