Marcelo invokes separation of powers and refuses to comment on Aguiar-Branco’s suggestion to hear PGR

O President this Saturday he refused to comment on statements made by the president of the Assembly of the Republic asking for clarifications from the Attorney General of the Republic in parliament, invoking the separation of powers.

“It is a matter specific to the life of the Assembly of the Republic, the president of the Assembly of the Republic makes this internal suggestion in the Assembly of the Republic and the President of the Republic cannot comment”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied to journalists.

The President of the Republic, who spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom, in Peniche, invoked “the separation of powers” in order not to comment.

The president of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, defended that the Attorney General of the Republic, Lucília Gago, should explain to the country in parliament about the actions of justice and the ongoing investigations, namely ‘Operation Influencer’, that led to the fall of António Costa’s government, and the investigation that resulted in the political crisis in Madeira.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that his role is to “respect the autonomy of the Public Ministry”.

Debt forgiveness and financing can be ways to repair the consequences of colonialism

The President of the Republic defended that Portugal must lead the process of assuming and repairing the consequences of the period of colonialism and suggested debt forgiveness, cooperation and financing as an example.

“I’ve always thought that apologizing is an easy solution to the problem. I’m sorry… it’s never talked about again. You take responsibility for the good and bad that happened in the empire. Coming out means, in fact, that “, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told journalists, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom, in Peniche.

Asked to clarify his recent statements on the matter, the President of the Republic highlighted that, throughout his presidency, he has defended that Portugal must “lead the process” in dialogue with these countries.

“We cannot put this under the carpet or in a drawer. We have an obligation to pilot, to lead this process, because if we do not lead it, taking responsibility, what happened to countries that, having been colonial powers, will happen after x years have lost the capacity for dialogue and understanding with the former colonies”, he warned.

To achieve this, Portugal must have “ways of repairing” the consequences of colonialism, exemplifying debt forgiveness, cooperation, the granting of lines of credit and financing that, he said, have been established.

In addition to the heritage of the former colonies, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled that “the problems of former combatants and those “robbed” of their assets in the former colonies and forced to return to Portugal are also “unresolved”.