Statements by Ventura and Pedro Pinto “may constitute crimes”, but parliamentary immunity can protect deputies
Stating that “perhaps, if [os agentes da PSP] they shot more to kill, the country was more in order”, that the police officer who fatally shot a man in Cova da Moura should be “decorated”, not made a defendant, and that “one less criminal… one less Bloc voter” These are controversial statements by Pedro Pinto, André Ventura and Ricardo Reis (Chega’s advisor) and may substantiate the commission of crimes, according to experts interviewed by Expresso. Opinions that are in line with criminal participation presented by a group of citizens, including the former Minister of Justice, Francisca Van Dunem, the former Minister of Education, João Costa, the lawyer António Garcia Pereira and the commentators João Maria Jonet, Daniel Oliveira and Pedro Marques Lopes, which is for public subscription and has already led to the opening of an investigation by the Public Ministry (MP). But there are those who warn that it is necessary to evaluate the context and intention, with more variables in the equation, such as the parliamentary immunity that deputies enjoy.
“Freedom of expression is, as we know, a fundamental right, but, in this case, the statements in question, given their content, do not represent the exercise of that right”, constitutionalist Tiago Serrão tells Expresso.
