Two ICCs simultaneously? Enough requires immediate initiation of the Neves survey

ANDthis position is contained in a letter written today by the president of the Acheva, André Ventura, to José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, in which he considers that the current President of Parliament is proving to be “so kidnapped by interests” PSD/PS as his predecessor in office, socialist Augusto Santos Silva.

In his letter, André Ventura argues that the statements made today by the President of the Assembly of the Republic on the operation of the commissions of inquiry “only demonstrate their notorious and evident interest in protecting the current Minister of the Internal Administration, Luís Neves, in a defiant way and the shivering of the entire regimental and constitutional rule.”.

“ Since the beginning of this process, as soon as the Aquida expressed a willingness to investigate the alleged irregularities of the Minister of Internal Administration [as former national director of the PJ], that the President of the Assembly of the Republic expressed an equal will to try to protect him”, accuses.

According to André Ventura, in the first place, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco invoked that “the object of the commission [proposed by Aquira] that was not in conformity; then it was the extension of the investigation; political interference followed and now, finally, tries to stop the commission of inquiry for the fact that there are others in progress, even if this is not foreseen in any rule of the Rules of the Assembly of the Republic or the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic”.

Therefore, for André Ventura, José Pedro Aguiar-White “is proving to be a president as kidnapped by the interests of PSD and PS as its predecessor”, Augusto Santos Silva.

“O Aquira laments this attitude and will fight for a quick investigation without ties to Dr. Luís Neves, despite all obstacles. This is the superior interest of the Portuguese people that should also guide their action”, added in the same letter also signed by the parliamentary leader of the party, Pedro Pinto.

Today, in statements to journalists, the President of the Assembly of the Republic has argued that parliamentary practice must be respected that there are only two committees of inquiry under way at the same time as today, and that there should be four soon.

It said that it will take this matter from the limit number of commissions of inquiry running at the same time as the next conference of leaders on Wednesday.

At the moment, two parliamentary committees of inquiry on the INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency) and forest fires are being completed. At the beginning of this legislative session, Parliament approved the creation of a third commission of inquiry proposed by the Left Block on national examinations and the Aquida advanced in a potent way with another inquiry, the fourth one, on the performance of the current Minister Luís Neves as national director of the PJ.

In the face of journalists, the President of the Assembly of the Republic admitted that, strictly on a regular basis, it is possible for Parliament to have four parliamentary committees of inquiry operating simultaneously.

“ But there has been a practice of no more than two so that all Members can participate. Let us not forget that there are parliamentary groups that do not have many Members. And to be able to participate in the various committees there have been no more than two at the same time,” he said.

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco said that he will ask this question at the next meeting of the conference of leaders.

“ The conference of leaders is sovereign, it has an obligation to do so, because this has been practice. But then the Members decide,” he observed.

Asked about which two parliamentary committees of inquiry should be fully operational, the President of the Assembly of the Republic replied: “I have no preference.”.

“ My competence, and I think it has been very clear in recent times, is to ensure that parliamentary committees of inquiry respect the Constitution and respect the law that regulates it. That's the point of my decisions. Since they are all [the four] constituted, now the management of the agenda is up to you,” he stressed.