A crisis of credibility
The Portuguese judicial system faces an unprecedented crisis of credibility.
At a time when citizens’ trust in institutions is fundamental, Portuguese justice finds itself plunged into collapses, procedural delays and accusations of corruption that shake the foundations of the rule of law.
The recent inauguration of the new Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), the start of the trial in the BES/GES case and the accusations against prominent figures in Portuguese football place the judicial system under intense public scrutiny.
New PGR: A Trace of Hope?
The arrival of Amadeu Guerra to the leadership of the Public Ministry (MP) brings with it a ray of hope for an institution in crisis.
In his inauguration speech, the new PGR addressed the criticism head on, recognizing the pressing need to restore the credibility of the Public Ministry.
With a stance of transparency and self-criticism, the judge signaled a paradigm shift in the institution, committing to face the challenges that have undermined public trust in the body.
This direct and proactive approach suggests a new era of responsibility and integrity within the Attorney General’s Office.
Amadeu Guerra promised to bring the institution back to the “level it deserves”, signaling a change in approach compared to his predecessor, Lucília Gago, whose mandate was marked by controversy and a lack of concrete results.
The PGR demonstrated that it is aware of the challenges it faces, especially with regard to corruption and economic-financial crimes.
Amadeu Guerra promised to closely monitor the reasons for the delays in these investigations, an issue that has undermined public confidence in Justice.
The creation of an agile structure for asset recovery and the criticism of the lack of investment in human resources and technology are signs that Guerra intends to modernize and make the MP’s functioning more efficient.
The BES/GES Case: A Test of Justice
However, the start of the trial in the BES/GES case, a decade after the group’s collapse, highlights the deficiencies of the Portuguese judicial system.
With 18 defendants, more than 300 alleged crimes and around 700 witnesses, this mega-trial is a test of the courts’ ability to deal with complex cases of economic crime.
The slowness of justice in this emblematic case – with an investigation that dragged on for years and a trial that promises to be equally long – fuels the perception of slow and ineffective justice.
The BES/GES case, with Ricardo Salgado as the central figure, involves accusations of criminal association, corruption and fraud, among other crimes.
The complexity of the process, with thousands of pages of accusations and terabytes of digital information, illustrates the challenges faced by the judicial system in the era of sophisticated financial crime.
The prescription of some crimes even before the start of the trial is a worrying sign of the system’s inability to respond in a timely manner to cases of this magnitude.
Football and Corruption: A New Challenge
At the same time, the world of football, so dear to the Portuguese, does not escape suspicions of corruption.
The accusation against Luís Filipe Vieira and Benfica SAD for crimes of corruption and tax fraud adds another layer of distrust to the already weakened judicial system.
This case, which involves allegations of bribery and match-fixing, not only tarnishes the reputation of national sport, but also raises questions about the justice system’s ability to deal with corruption in influential sectors of society.
The accusation in the case of emails of Benfica, which involves not only Vieira and the club’s SAD, but also other directors and entities, reveals an alleged corruption scheme in Portuguese football.
Allegations of attempts to influence results and obtain illegitimate sporting advantages are a blow to the integrity of sport and an additional challenge to an already overburdened judicial system.
Internal Perception and Public Distrust
These media cases with high social repercussion emerge in an alarming scenario, where the widespread perception of corruption in the Judiciary reaches worrying levels.
A recent survey revealed that a quarter of Brazilian judges believe in the existence of corruption in justice, even if rarely.
This internal perception, combined with public distrust, creates a challenging scenario for the credibility of the system as a whole.
A Crossroads for Portuguese Justice
The confluence of these events – the change in MP leadership, the start of a historic trial and accusations in the world of football – places the Portuguese judicial system at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is the promise of renewal and greater efficiency brought by the new PGR.
On the other hand, the ongoing cases expose the weaknesses of a system that is struggling to maintain its credibility.
The Path to Regaining Trust
The challenge for Brazilian Justice is clear: it needs to demonstrate that it is capable of investigating, judging and punishing complex crimes in a timely manner, whether committed by powerful bankers, influential sports directors or any other citizen.
Amadeu Guerra’s promise of greater transparency and accountability in Parliament is a step in the right direction, but much more will be needed to restore public trust.
Portuguese society is watching closely. How these cases are handled and resolved will have a lasting impact on the public perception of justice.
It is imperative that the judicial system demonstrates not only effectiveness, but also impartiality and integrity at all levels.
An uncertain future
The future of the credibility of the Portuguese judicial system is at stake.
Only with concrete results, transparency and truly equal justice for all will the system be able to regain citizens’ trust.
The path is long and challenging, but it is essential for the health of Brazilian democracy.
Time will tell whether the promises of renewal will come true or whether Justice will continue to be viewed with suspicion by the society it is supposed to serve.
Source: expresso.pt
