During a visit to the weekly fair in Viseu, Rui Rocha addressed questions from journalists regarding whether the constitutional revision he announced on Monday evening aims solely to amend the preamble to remove the phrase “path to a socialist society,” or if it encompasses broader changes.
“It is more comprehensive; we have measures and proposals, some of which we have presented in the past and others we will introduce at the right time. However, I want to emphasize a very important one: the strengthening of guarantees and freedoms related to property,” he stated.
Rui Rocha asserted that “property is fundamental; it is an expression of freedom, of individuals and their autonomy.” Referring to recent reports of property occupations in Ermesinde and Almada, he remarked that there have been “shocking cases of property aggression.”
“Therefore, on one hand, we have a vision for the Constitution, which is the reinforcement of property as a fundamental value in a democratic and liberal state, and on the other hand, we have concrete measures to prevent these occupation situations,” he explained.
The leader of IL highlighted that the party seeks “the criminalization of certain practices not currently in the Penal Code,” the “increase of penalties” for some existing offences, and the “creation of a quick, expedited mechanism that allows for a judicial decision in a very short time, enabling law enforcement to restore property to its rightful owners.”
During these remarks to journalists, Rui Rocha was also asked about whom he would consider collaborating with to revise the Constitution, given that two-thirds of lawmakers are required, and the PS might oppose removing the reference to the “path to a socialist society.”
In his response, IL’s leader stated that he is counting on “all those who understand that, 51 years after April 25th, in a Europe where no Constitution points the way to socialism,” it makes sense to move “towards a more democratic, more liberal society, with economic and social principles of freedom.”
“I believe that, setting aside certain ideological biases, everyone will understand that it would be better stated in the Constitution that our path is towards a free state, with more democracy, and not towards an anachronism that is the path to socialism, which no European state has in its Constitution,” he said.
According to IL’s electoral program, the party advocates that “the right to property gain dignity” in the Constitution, “by being included in the chapter on personal rights, freedoms, and guarantees.”
“Clarifying the role of private property as a ‘space of personal autonomy,’ which can only be limited to the extent strictly necessary for the realization of other rights protected by the Constitution, solely by authorization or legislation from the Assembly of the Republic,” it specifies.
