Violation becomes public crime in Portugal

Parliament approved proposal in general. Parliamentary groups of PCP and PS abstained, but some deputies, such as Pedro Nuno Santos, voted in favor.

The Assembly of the Republic approved this Friday, the consecration of the crime of violation as a public crimeas it will allow the Public Prosecution Service to advance with investigation and accusation even without complaint of the victim.

The proposal results from initiatives of the Left and Free Block, both approved with the support of a large parliamentary majority. In favor of PSD, CDs, liberal initiative, Pan, arrives, JPP, Left Block, Free and some PS deputies, including Pedro Nuno Santos, Elza Pais and Sofia Pereira, advances.

Another bill presented by PAN with the same objective was also approved with the abstention of PS, IL and PCP.

The vote had the PSD supportwhose sense of vote had already been anticipated by Deputy Eva Brás Pinho, who guaranteed the monitoring of legislative evolution in this matter, after years of abstentions and votes against the party he currently rules.

According to Expresso, he will have come from the European directive approved in April 2024, which requires the Member States advances in combating violence against women and domestic violence. The deadline for implementing this directive ends in 2027, increasing the pressure on Luís Montenegro’s direction to act.

Historical legislative change removes from the victims the exclusive burden of the complaint: regardless of the will of the victim, anyone can report the crime of violation against it.

The measure will still have to be debated and voted in expertise.