Deputies are bad and Aguiar-Branco advocates review Code of Conduct of Parliament

The President of the Assembly of the Republic considered it appropriate to promote a discussion about the revision of the Code of Conduct of Deputies, eventually providing for sanctions.

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco He spoke to journalists in Paço de Arcos, municipality of Oeiras, in the midst of a visit to the Infante Dom Henrique Nautical School, which was the target of a vote of praise unanimously approved by Parliament.

Questioned about the latest incidents related to improper behaviors of deputies -One of them starred by, from the arrival, as a member of the table of Parliament -the President of the Assembly of the Republic alluded to proposals already presented by the PS and free to review the Code of Conduct.

“Maybe it’s timely we can revisit the Code of Conduct that the deputies are subject and the Rules of the Assembly of the Republic. This is an impulse that competes for parliamentary groups”Pointed out José Pedro Aguiar-Branco.

For the President of the Assembly of the Republic, “should be parliamentary groups to have the impulse to review.”

“The credibility of Parliament is not only observed with regard to the political freedom of the debate held there, but also as to the shape and to rules of urbanity that must exist. And it is the whole of these two realities that gives credibility to parliament and prestige to the institution Criticism of democracy, the Assembly of the Republic, ”he said.

Before journalists, the president of Parliament stressed that, at this time, there is no sanctioning framework applicable to deputies In the exercise of his duties, but then indicated that “there are publicly two parliamentary groups, the PS and the Livre, who gave indications that they intended to put review proposals.”

“So far, this dynamic has not yet been raised [de revisão] to be able to discuss. I think it is well discussed and it is a reflection that can be made”He stressed.

From a personal point of view, the President of the Assembly of the Republic said he was not in favor of the existence of sanctions, saying that he continues to believe that “ maturity and liability of each one by the way it exercises its mandate must be tried when the Portuguese are voting”.

Interrogated if he is concerned about the image of Parliament in the face of the succession of, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco replied that the concern should not be his own.

“It must be of all gentlemen. Our legitimacy is a legitimacy that results from the vote. No one is invited there, no one has entered the door by the side, all came in with the legitimacy of the vote of each of the Portuguese. And we can’t help but have that in mind, ”he said.

It also left another repair, alluding to the role of the Assembly of the Republic as a body of sovereignty.

“This is not a school, it is not a company. It is the greatest record of democracywhich is the representation of the Portuguese by mandate in direct and universal suffrage, ”he said.

Confronted with the Disciplinary case of Filipe Melo, fromadmitted that it has special severity because it is a member of the Parliament Table.

Last Thursday the socialist deputy Isabel Moreira filed a complaint against Filipe Melo, after the arrival deputy sent him “kisses” during a plenary session, in a behavior described as inappropriate and offensive.