Ombudsman, Maria Lúcia Amaral, has expressed her concern and bewilderment at recent judicial cases that have toppled two governments, warning “there are no unlimited and unscrutinised powers”.
In interview with Rádio Renascença, when asked about ‘Operation Influencer’ (the criminal inquiry that has since shown ‘no signs of crime’), she stressed she was speaking as a citizen, jurist and university law professor.
“Everything indicates, according to the Court of Appeal, that there was a gross error on the part of the Public Prosecutor’s Office with consequences that are there for all to see and that are of a magnitude that it is impossible not to repair” she said, emphasising “there are no powers in Portugal that cannot be scrutinised and without accountability (…)
If there are suspicions about Portugal’s prime minister, I think it’s common sense that everyone wants those suspicions to be resolved, or confirmed, or denied! Because the suspicion of the former prime minister of Portugal is a stain on all of us and an external stain on the Portuguese State”.
