During a radio debate with the leaders of parliamentary parties, broadcast from RTP studios, PSD President and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed his willingness to explore measures aimed at improving the justice system, particularly addressing the issue of procedural delays and criticizing the use of so-called megaprocesses.
“I believe we can conclude today that opting for megaprocesses was not a fortunate choice; it was a way to extend the opportunities to delay all procedural steps,” he explained during the debate aired by Antena 1, TSF, Rádio Renascença, and Rádio Observador.
Montenegro emphasized the need to shorten timelines in criminal justice by strengthening resources during the investigation phase and proposed changes to administrative and fiscal justice, which he described as “very detrimental to the country’s economic and social life.”
PS Secretary-General Pedro Nuno Santos, when questioned about whether the PS still supports a hierarchical review of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, highlighted that a year ago the socialists advocated for “clarification of the hierarchical structure,” noting that this issue is constitutionally enshrined.
Pedro Nuno also advocated for faster investigations and judicial processes, eliminating the “suspensive nature of certain appeals used to prolong proceedings” and reducing legal costs to “facilitate citizens’ access to justice.”
At the beginning of the debate, the focus was also on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, with Chega representative André Ventura asserting that the Office has “proven its ability to operate independently in recent years” and criticized what he described as constraints on justice’s functioning.
“I believe justice has been constrained, restricted, and the capacity to act has been limited. We need stronger and more active justice, unfettered by fear of action,” he stated, adding that a reform of justice, particularly regarding administrative issues, is necessary.
Rui Rocha of IL refrained from commenting on justice itself, opting instead to concentrate on political issues, remarking that the country is heading to elections because the “AD decided to present a confidence motion they knew would be rejected” and that all parties, except the liberals, “contributed to political instability.”
Rui Tavares of Livre echoed Rui Rocha’s position on the case that led to the government’s resignation, insisting again that Luís Montenegro should have handed over Spinuviva to “independent professional management” upon assuming political roles.
Mariana Mortágua of BE argued that “justice should not interfere in politics,” though acknowledging “there are sometimes temptations” reflected in the timing of certain announcements. Meanwhile, Paulo Raimundo of PCP maintained that “everything is political” while emphasizing the importance of “preserving justice’s autonomy and creating conditions for it to fulfill its role.”
PAN spokesperson Inês de Sousa Real criticized André Ventura over legal issues related to members of his party, referencing Chega MP (ex-PAN) Cristina Rodrigues, who is set to be tried for allegedly committing a crime against a computer program or other data in 2020, when she was leaving PAN.
