In a campaign event that took place at the end of the morning at the Benfica Market, the candidate supported by the Bloco de Esquerda (BE) insisted on the idea that no one is above the law, which is why “neither the Public Ministry nor the Justice system cannot” be at that level.
“I think this is a very serious case from the point of view of the Rule of Law, because when Justice does not comply with Justice it is an absolute insecurity. It is not for António Costa, it is for all citizens of this country to know that Justice can be outside the law. A deep discussion is needed in this country and I hope that, firstly, the bodies responsible for monitoring the actions of Justice act quickly and provide explanations to the country. This is really a problem with the Rule of Law, it is no less than that”, highlighted the former MEP.
Catarina Martins defended, on the other hand, that there must be a reform in the Justice sector, “something that has been heard for a long time”, stressing that it is equally necessary to “guarantee scrutiny of the Justice’s action and a more effective democratic explanation of its action, because cases like these are not possible”.
“There is a need for another very big change in Justice, which is for everyone to have access to Justice, because we live in Portugal in a regime in which, in fact, there is Justice for those who can and a Justice that is lacking for those who cannot, for those who do not have the money to resort to the courts”, he argued.
Asked whether the Public Ministry has allowed it to influence Portuguese politics in recent years, Catarina Martins recalled that there have been “successive problems”, highlighting the example of leaks to judicial secrecy, “which show how it can be exploited and that often came directly from the Court”.
“And that is a problem, because people are condemned in the public square without having the right to defend themselves. Then, there are things that should be investigated and that are never investigated. And, therefore, yes, we have a problem with Justice. I think the problem of Justice is resolved by demanding a more democratic Justice, more democratic in the transparency of its procedures and access to Justice, because Justice cannot be for those who can and for those who cannot”, he added.