Luís Neves, Portugal’s new minister of internal administration, set the record straight this morning about a perceived conflict of interest implied by his former post as head of the PJ criminal police force – a branch of the security services involved in investigations linked to the prime minister.
He told reporters: “The national director (of the PJ) does not investigate anyone (…) The role of the National Director of the Judicial Police is to organise and provide resources for an institution. Fortunately, throughout the 80 years of the Judicial Police Institution, which celebrated its anniversary on October 20, its organisation and basic model allow information to remain confidential” (without going to the top). “I have no reservations (…) I am completely confident about my information”.
Neves added that he accepts his new responsibility “with great enthusiasm”, promising to do as a minister what he has always tried to do in the past – which is “work to provide women and men and institutions with the best conditions” in which they can work.
The incoming minister promised dialogue, guaranteeing that “all positive proposals will be embraced and taken on board (…) Those that do not meet this standard will be discussed. Those that go against my conscience (…) will be rejected”.
Bearing in mind that this is a man who only recently stressed in interview with Rádio Renascença (to be broadcast next month) that police forces “must have better conditions”, and that the low salaries paid to PSP police are “unacceptable”, this is an appointment that has heartened syndicates and associations that had been battling with his two recent predecessors – neither of which had ever said anything remotely along these lines.
Neves’ appointment has been largely welcomed by opposition parties, too – as well as by leader writers and commentators who see his selection as a potential ‘third time lucky’ situation for the prime minister (whose previous choices were fairly catastrophic).
Today’s short ceremony swearing the 60-year-old career criminal investigator into his new role also saw the reinstatement of the various secretaries of state: Paulo Ribeiro (internal administration), Telmo Correia (administration) and Rui Rocha (Civil Protection).
Source material: Expresso
