The President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted today that the “special pardon provided for in the law”, approved by the Assembly of the Republic on Wednesday, “does not apply to murderers and pedophiles”, nor to people convicted of domestic violence, among many other more serious crimes.
The guarantee was given through a note published today on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, in which the head of State clarified "false news disseminated" in recent days and stressed that "the possibility of special pardon provided for in the Law of the Assembly of the Republic approved this Wednesday”, a measure taken to try to prevent the spread of Covid-19, “does not apply to murderers and pedophiles”.
"In fact, it does not apply to those convicted of murder, crime against personal freedom or sexual freedom and sexual self-determination, including rape and sexual abuse of children and adolescents, domestic violence and abuse, serious or qualified offense to physical integrity ”, casts.
It also does not apply to those convicted of “theft with violence, crime against cultural identity and personal integrity, fire crime, namely forest fire, drug trafficking, criminal association, money laundering, passive or active corruption”.
This range of exceptions also includes crimes "as holder of political office or high public office, judicial magistrate or the Public Ministry, or as a member of the police and security forces, the armed forces or officials and guards of the prison services", clarifies the President of the Republic.
“Furthermore, it is necessary to deal with elderly people, in a serious health situation”, emphasizes Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Later, in a statement to the country, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that pardons will be assessed "case by case" and that there will be no pardon of sentences "in mass".
This note is published a day after the President of the Republic promulgated the Government law that creates an exceptional regime for pardoning sentences due to Covid-19, despite doubts, less than 24 hours after it was approved in parliament.
In a note published on Thursday on the Presidency's website, it was read that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had promulgated the decree “taking into account important ethical, humanitarian and public health reasons, as well as the recommendation of the United Nations and appeals such as those of the Church Católica Portuguesa, which overcome doubts that may arise from certain provisions of the approved regime”.
The Government's proposal that creates an exceptional regime for easing the execution of sentences and pardons for prisoners due to covid-19 was approved on Thursday in a global final vote with votes against PSD, CDS-PP, Liberal Initiative and Enough.
The PAN abstained and the remaining parties and deputies - PS, BE, PCP, PEV and non-registered deputy Joacine Katar-Moreira - voted in favor.
In the specialty vote, also made on Thursday in plenary, amendments to the diploma presented by PS, PCP and CDS-PP were approved.
The draft law provides for a partial pardon of prison sentences for less serious crimes, a special regime for pardoning the sentences, an extraordinary regime for the administrative leave of prisoners and the extraordinary anticipation of release on parole.
The Government diploma, which will come into force on the day following its publication, provides that partial pardon of prison sentences of up to two years, or of the last two years of prison sentences, does not apply to anyone who has committed crimes such as murder, violations, crimes of domestic violence or abuse of minors, nor to crimes committed by political office holders, members of the security forces or the Armed Forces, by magistrates or other persons with special responsibility functions.
The Minister of Justice, Francisca Van Dunem, estimated that the diploma could mean the release of 1.700 to 2.000 prisoners.
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