MAI guarantees that it is “absolutely shielded” – and will not tolerate certain police behavior

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, said that he respects the criticism regarding his direct transition from director of the Judiciary Police to the Government.

Luis Neves guarantees that he is “absolutely shielded” in relation to the information area: “If I felt that there was even the slightest conflict of interest in relation to this issue, I myself would not have accepted” the nomination for the position, he told journalists this Thursday.

The new minister was asked about those of the former prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho who considered “a serious precedent” the direct transition of Luís Neves from national director of the Judiciary Police (PJ) to Minister of Internal Administration.

Luís Neves highlighted that he listened “with the greatest respect” to the opinion of Passos Coelho and “other people who wrote and gave their opinions on this matter”, but maintained that is “absolutely calm” and that “it is healthy” to have different opinions.

“There was never any interference, there was never any question, there was never any research. Therefore, I want to say that in this regard I am absolutely shielded in relation to the information area”, he explained.

Will not tolerate deviant behavior

The Minister of Internal Administration expressed “absolutely unshakable” confidence in the PSP regarding the respect for fundamental rights. However, he stated that will not tolerate any deviant behavior or violations by police officers.

Luís Neves highlighted that cases of police violence and the alleged involvement of police in Nazi groups.

“In isolated cases in which the violation is prepared, is intentional, is repeated, will never count on any understanding of these acts”, he warned.

“I say this aware that I am facing a security force, of very noble people, people who respect, people who carry out their mission every day, with brilliance, with honor, with determination”, he said.

Luís Neves stressed that in an institution the size of the PSP “there will always be one or the other who will break the rule”, but “this departure from the rules, this lack of commitment, this violation has to be identified”.

“My confidence in the Public Security Police institution, at this level of respect for fundamental rights, is absolutely unshakable,” he said, referring to recent issues involving police officers.

Speaking to journalists, the minister also stated that “discipline, respect for fundamental rights and all forms of human diversity are the baseline of any institution”.

“The Public Security Police is one of the great institutions, just like the National Republican Guard, the security forces work this way, they have a basis of great respect, but in thousands of men and women there are sometimes deviations from the law, and these deviations from the law, when they violate these rights, must, in fact, be punished”, he highlighted.