“In the case of corruption and related crimes, as well as economic-financial crime, I intend to closely monitor, through the directors of the Regional DIAP and the Central Department of Criminal Investigation and Action (DCIAP), the reasons for the delay. at the same time, we need the Judicial Police to participate effectively, given the recent increase in its human resources: inspectors, experts and technological resources”, he said.
In the speech given at the inauguration ceremony at the Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon, where he was sworn in by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the new PGR also recognized the importance of the Public Ministry (MP) protected and guaranteed that magistrates with “commitment, determination and desire can raise the MP’s image to the level it deserves”.
Regarding the fight against corruption, Amadeu Guerra also reiterated that it is “as effective or more effective in ensuring the loss of assets than a prison sentence”, stressing that it is a priority to “reinforce and implement asset recovery” in processes through a new structure. .
“An agile structure will be created — which will be given the necessary training — which will be responsible for carrying out the investigation of the inventory of the assets or for supporting the holder and for presenting the necessary requests for the preventive seizure decision, ie ” he said he.
In addition to economic-financial crime, the new PGR also highlighted the threat posed by cybercrime, both in terms of critical infrastructure and in terms of citizens; crimes committed against extremely vulnerable victims, especially the elderly, which require investigations “in a very short period of time”; and domestic violence, whose numbers he considered “alarming” and that there must be a “timely risk analysis” to prevent murders.
On the other hand, Amadeu Guerra also recalled the scope of the functions and powers of the MP, noting that they exceed the criminal domain and are based on the representation of the State in the administrative and civil jurisdiction, in the exercise of parental responsibilities, in the defense of the European Union. the interests of children, young people, the elderly or vulnerable adults, and in intervention in the fields of the environment, urban planning, public health and cultural heritage.
Lucília Gago “had no luck”The new Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), Amadeu Guerra, considered today that his predecessor Lucília Gago did not have an easy mandate and also defined “red lines” to protect the independence of the Public Ministry (MP) for the other six. years.
“A final word for the outgoing Attorney General, who was not lucky during her term of office, when a pandemic occurred that changed — for about two years — habits and motivation of the Portuguese.
After the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was sworn in at the Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon, Amadeu Guerra thanked the Head of State for “the trust” placed in him and acknowledged the Prime Minister , Luís Montenegro, for his “perseverance and determination” to accept the invitation to the post, but he also left warnings against possible interference with the independence of the MP judiciary.
“There are also red lines that I do not accept, namely, the change in the statute of the Office of the Public Prosecutor in violation of the Constitution and its independence and autonomy,” he said.
Amadeu Guerra, 69 years old, born in Tábua (Coimbra) and graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Lisbon, held various positions as a magistrate in the Ministry of Public Affairs (MP), but he became known as on it when, between 2013 and 2019. , he became director of the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP), the department that investigates major corruption and the most serious and complex economic-financial crimes.
The magistrate was chosen to lead the DCIAP under the mandate of the PGR Joana Marques Vidal at the time. Under his leadership, DCIAP investigated media cases such as Operation Marquês (of which the former prime minister José Sócrates is the main accused), the BES/GES case or Operation Fizz, which led to the indictment and conviction for the corruption of the prosecutor Orlando Fig tree .