Discussing what he described as the judiciary’s interference in national political life, Rui Rio stated that this is beginning to occur in Portugal, referencing the “fall of the democratically elected absolute majority Government [of António Costa].”
“Here in your presence is the one who was defeated in those elections and who respects the electoral result. I believe the Government should have continued to the end and not fallen due to judicial interference. They won the elections and have that right—I was the one defeated. We must uphold democratic principles if we wish to celebrate 50 years since April 25th and maintain a democratic rule of law,” he declared.
In his speech during the northern presentation of the book ‘For Justice Reform — The Manifesto Group of 50’, Rui Rio further argued that the mistake was repeated with the Regional Government of Madeira.
“I am not saying investigations shouldn’t take place when there are reasons for them,” emphasized the former social-democratic politician.
He continued, “Now, an additional novelty is intervening during election campaigns, with the concept of preventive investigation. Since there is a candidate for prime minister under preventive investigation, another was arranged for a different candidate. This is not acceptable in a democratic rule of law.”
Returning to António Costa, Rui Rio commented that his appointment to the presidency of the European Council “is a humiliation for the Portuguese justice system,” adding that “the majority of leaders from countries forming the European Union told the Portuguese judicial system, ‘conduct your investigations as you wish, for us it amounts to nothing.'”
“This is a defeat for the Public Prosecutor’s Office but also for the country, as a nation cannot be proud of a justice system that is not duly recognized abroad (…), yet this does not reflect well on António Costa [who, as Prime Minister] had the opportunity to make a difference and did not,” he remarked.
