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Through his official account on the social network ‘Twitter’, the Social Democratic leader affirms that “Law 44/86, which Mr. PM invokes to protect the PCP, does not say that the congress cannot be postponed, much less, it prohibits the Government to determine that it should be done by videoconference ”.
“He does not do it because he does not want to”, continues Rui Rio, accusing the António Costa executive of not wanting “to treat all Portuguese equally.”
The legal regime of the state of siege and the state of emergency establishes that “the meetings of the statutory bodies of political parties, unions and professional associations shall in no case be prohibited, dissolved or subject to prior authorization.”
The prime minister today refused to comment on the holding of party meetings such as the PCP congress, arguing that the law of the state of emergency “is clear and exhaustive” by preventing them from being banned, dissolved or subject to authorization.
At a press conference at the Palácio da Ajuda, in Lisbon, to announce the new measures of the Council of Ministers to combat covid-19, António Costa was asked about the celebration of the PCP congress, next weekend, in Loures, in a state of complete emergency.
Showing a sheet with the law of the state of emergency, “from September 30, 1986, a very old law that has remained unchanged”, the prime minister considered that “the law is clear and exhaustive” from “the meetings The organs statutory members of political parties, trade unions and professional associations shall in no case be prohibited, dissolved or subject to prior authorization ”.
Asked about the perception that this great party meeting, which will bring together 600 people, may have public opinion, since it takes place at a time when there will be a ban on movement between municipalities, António Costa declined to discuss perceptions and made it clear that what has to exist and exists “is the definition of the SGD rules that must be respected.
“It is not up to the Prime Minister to comment on the decisions of the different political parties. The prime minister is simply responsible for respecting the functioning of the different political parties and the choices they make, ”he only replied.
The prime minister was clear in stating that “the law of the state of emergency does not allow for the prohibition, dissolution or prior authorization of meetings of statutory bodies, particularly political parties.”
“Even if the Government wanted, even if the Assembly of the Republic wanted, even if the President of the Republic wanted, none of us could do it under the law that has been in force since 1986. That is the way it is in the law,” he justified.
The 21st National Congress of the PCP will take place between Friday and Sunday, in Loures.
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