Entering the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Nova University Lisbon, Jorge Pinto expressed surprise at the publication of wiretaps involving former Prime Minister António Costa by a magazine, citing concerns over “the use and abuse of phone taps.”
“[Wiretaps] are a powerful tool, undoubtedly important in critical stages of investigations, but due to their importance, they must be used sparingly. We cannot have wiretaps that invade the private lives of individuals, regardless of who they are,” he stated.
The presidential candidate endorsed by Livre argued against normalizing “listening to someone’s personal life and subsequently releasing conversations to the media that hold no relevance to the ongoing investigation,” asserting that the head of state “should take a clear stance on this issue.”
When asked about his expectations for Prosecutor General Amadeu Guerra, Pinto suggested that at the very least, he should be “more vocal about what he thinks in this specific case,” emphasizing the significance of an operation (Operation Influencer) that “led to the fall of a prime minister, resulting in the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic and early elections.”
“Two years have passed since these events, and we still see no real progress in the investigation. It’s unsustainable. A country cannot remain in limbo for over two years after a decision that led to the Assembly’s fall without any substantive investigation developments,” he emphasized.
Jorge Pinto stressed the need for a collective realization among all political agents and citizens that “something profound needs to be addressed in the justice system.”
The candidate for Belém further expressed his hopes that disclosing these wiretaps “should not indicate an attempt by the judicial power to become a political force.”
“The separation of powers works both ways. Just as the political power does not intervene in the judiciary, the judiciary cannot, actively or passively, intervene in political affairs. A President of the Republic must be very clear on this. This separation is crucial as it goes both ways, between political and judicial powers,” he remarked.
The Livre candidate was also questioned about the process of gathering signatures to formalize his candidacy, revealing that the required minimum of 7,500 signatures has been surpassed and will be submitted soon on an unspecified date.
Jorge Pinto, attending Nova FCSH for a seminar on philosopher Hannah Arendt, mentioned his intent to engage with university students and learn more about the legacy of Hannah Arendt, a leading thinker on totalitarianism.
