Rui Rio, who demands reform in the MP, says that “Spain has six magistrates per 100 thousand inhabitants” while Portugal has 17. Is it true?

The former mayor of Porto and former leader of the PSD was on CNN Portugal last night, hours after the content of the manifesto that he signed with 49 other personalities became known and which calls, among other things, for the end of the searches and “unjustified” wiretaps, which are considered by the signatories as “serious abuses”.

Almost a year ago, Rio had an unusual moment when, on the balcony of his house, he spoke to journalists driven by home searchescarried out by the PJ that morning, on suspicion of crimes of embezzlement and abuse of powers related to the Social Democrats. Asked about his state of mind, Rio quipped: “I’m going to the doctor from here because I’m feeling really bad. Very bad. I am filled with fear.” Now, out of political life and driven by a kind of poetic justice, he wants a reform in the Public Ministry (MP) which, he guarantees, will not fail due to “lack of resources”.

In the interview with CNN, Rio compared Portuguese judicial statistics with Spanish ones. But first, he left his doubts in the air: “The previous Prime Minister announced his resignation six months ago. During these six months, they didn’t deign to call him, they didn’t deign to listen to him, they didn’t do anything. Is it due to lack of means? Is it because they don’t have a room where it doesn’t rain? Is it because there is no official to summon the former Prime Minister? It looks like they want us to eat ice cream with our foreheads.”

As for the numbers: “For example, judicial magistrates per 100 thousand inhabitants. There were five in 1974. At the beginning of this century there were already 13.2. And in 2022 there were already 16.5. Always growing. Next door in Spain there is 6.2. In France around 10.” Is it confirmed?

Yes. In 2022, Eurostat data shows, there were a total of 17 (16.69) magistrates per 100 thousand inhabitants in Portugal. In Spain, the number drops to 6.15, which rounds to six. In France, in the same year, there were 11.33 magistrates per 100 thousand inhabitants. In Europe, the Portuguese number is far from being the highest: in Liechtenstein, in 2022, there were 71 magistrates for every 100 thousand inhabitants; in Montenegro and Croatia 43; and in Slovenia 42.

________________________________________

Polygraph Assessment: