The Justice sector is once again under debate, with several parties proposing reforms, including a division of the General Directorate of Reintegration and Prison Services (DGRSP) into separate prison and reintegration services. There is also widespread support for ending mega-trials to ensure procedural speed and prevent cases from expiring, alongside a review of legal costs.
AD (PSD/CDS-PP)
The coalition of PSD and CDS-PP recommends that the organisational structure of the DGRSP be revised, with improved mental health facilities for prisoners deemed unfit for regular incarceration. Proposals for enhancing procedural efficiency include reevaluating the preliminary hearing stage, considering changes to the Penal Code regarding appeals, shortening legal document lengths, and increasing courtroom numbers. The issue of mega-trials remains significant, with the AD suggesting the establishment of a task force to eliminate these cases and broadening the use of “reward mechanisms,” such as plea bargaining. For addressing corruption, proposals persist for regulating lobbying, creating a blacklist of state suppliers, and documenting government interactions with external entities to track legislative influence.
PS
The Socialist Party supports a wider application of provisional process suspensions when all parties agree and aims to eliminate mega-trials. Their proposals include reassessing appeal procedures that maintain suspensive effects to avoid delays, along with increasing resources to ensure the inquiry phase respects set deadlines. In terms of legal aid, the PS suggests reviewing judicial costs, updating the legal fees schedule, and exploring direct complaint rights to the Constitutional Court.
Chega
Chega seeks to criminalize hate incitement against prison guards, increase penalties for assaults on these employees, and suggests the division of the DGRSP into prison services and social reintegration. For the judiciary, Chega advocates for the state to cancel or avoid renewing costly leases for private buildings housing courts and wants to “reintroduce national symbols” in courtrooms. They also propose harsher sentences for crimes like domestic or sexual violence and economic offenses to prevent the suspension of penalties. Additionally, there is a suggestion to restrict political officeholders from engaging in business with family members.
Iniciativa Liberal
Iniciativa Liberal proposes setting up a court specializing in “foreigner rights,” modifying the suspensive effect of appeals to the Constitutional Court, reshaping the preliminary hearing stage, and instituting a swift regime for property protection and defense. For the judiciary, they recommend a direct access route to judicial positions for recognized jurists with relevant experience, as validated by the Judicial Studies Center. In terms of penal reform, suggestions include extending the statute of limitations for reporting child sexual abuse, increasing penalties for failure to render aid when death results, and banning those convicted of offenses against sexual self-determination from working with minors. For prisons, they advocate dividing the DGRSP into penalty execution and social reintegration.
Bloco de Esquerda
Bloco de Esquerda calls for a foundational law on justice to ensure a free national justice service. They propose reducing fees and costs in work accident claims, expanding legal aid, and applying alternative penalties to prison for minor crimes. For lawyers, Bloco advocates removing the master’s degree requirement for admittance to the Bar Association due to the “evident socio-economic discrimination” involved. In combating corruption, Bloco seeks to criminalize unjustified illicit enrichment with asset confiscation, tax wealth “without clear origin” at 100%, and establish an inspection entity for local governments. They also propose criminalizing the use of services from entities in offshore territories.
PCP
The PCP advocates progressively eliminating legal costs and extending legal aid by increasing fees for public defenders. They propose a social protection regime for all lawyers under Social Security. For prisons, the PCP wants the inversion of the DGRSP merger and proposes renewing prisons. In the fight against corruption and economic crime, they maintain their stance from previous elections banning commercial relations with tax havens and opposing the “legalization of influence peddling under the lobbying designation.”
Livre
Livre recommends clearer language in judgments and reducing “formalities” to limit delaying tactics. Their proposals include revising the preliminary hearing stage, making it mandatory for the Public Ministry to justify delays in investigations, and removing the suspensive effect of appeals to the Constitutional Court. They also suggest a value table for justice access based on income levels and gradually reduce legal fees in relation to process delays. To reform the prison system, Livre proposes building new prisons in Lisbon and the Algarve and establishing transition homes for inmates without financial means. To combat corruption, they propose creating a public agency incorporating the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MENAC), the Political Financing and Account Entity, and the Transparency Entity.
