Sanctions? Vitalino Canas calls for “absolute caution” to avoid undermining the Constitution
Former PS leader argues that Aguiar Branco has had a “prudent attitude” and warns of the risks of creating rules that could limit freedom of expression.
Introducing rules of conduct for MPs can only be done with absolute caution, taking into account constitutional parameters.” The warning was made by former Socialist Party (PS) MP Vitalino Canas, speaking to Jornal Económico (JE). The former MP expressed concern about the restrictions that could result from the change in the code of conduct in Parliament and asked for “coolness” and “care” so that a path is not opened for “real censorship” in the House of Democracy.
Although he acknowledges that there were “discrediting” references in the asides that launched the discussion around the code of conduct, and that led the PS to say “enough”, Vitalino Canas recalls that there are two “basic principles” of the Constitution that must be preserved “to the maximum”: the free exercise of the mandate under appropriate conditions and immunity for the opinions and votes that are cast in the exercise of these functions.
The former PS spokesperson says he is not “very much in favour” of introducing restrictions because “when we start judging other MPs and trying to define what they can and cannot say, we will reach a point where we are perhaps crossing the line and actually censoring the freedom of opinion that MPs should have”. “If we limit expression within the House of Democracy in an unreasonable way, we run the risk of then progressing and progressing, and then, two by three, there is no democracy at all within the House of Democracy”, he adds.
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