The Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, argues that the next person to occupy the position of Attorney General of the Republic needs to be able to “mark a new era for the Public Ministry†. In interview with the newspaper “Observadorâ€Rita Alarcão Júdice states that it is necessary to counteract “a certain discredit†of the Public Ministry.
“We need a person who has good leadership and communication skills,†he says, justifying that “modern times are no longer compatible with the idea that we can be inside our offices and we don’t speak, we don’t communicate and we don’t explain to citizens in our own offices”. The minister highlights that communication “is required†.
Rita Alarcão Júdice states that there have been “very difficult periods for the MP†and that “fair or unfair, the truth is that the MP is exposed to a lot of criticism†. These recent times have “created some discontent†. Thus, “the new attorney general has to set the house in order, so to speak†. The minister highlights that the “citizen’s perspective is very important for the Government†, claiming that “nowadays the common citizen does not understand many aspects of the MP’s activity†.
For the minister, “​​the MP is very important†and, therefore, “his capacity and credibility is decisive for the proper functioning of Justice†. Although “it is not the Minister of Justice who chooses the prosecutor or the Attorney General of the Republicâ€, she recognizes the role she has in this selection. “I admit that I may have a more relevant word to say than other ministers who may have less contact with the reality of Justice, but it is also true that Justice touches us all and that is why everyone will have or a word.
