Anonymous complaints become a political weapon in Portugal
propagandaIn the full election campaign, two candidates for the Prime Minister are investigated after that View unknown complaints. In the case of Montenegro Lewis, it is an alleged violation of the economic Investigation of Pedro Nuno Santos is related to the acquisition of two properties.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) opens Complaints since 2010. Paulo, head of the General Ministries Union, admits that there is a perception The volume of complaints increases in electoral periods. “There is a perception that this is happening, there is a general perception that the media is also transferring, that there will be more unknown complaints in previous periods of study.”
In recent weeks, the Ministry of Public has been criticized to move forward with investigations before the election campaign. For Paulo Canvas, The work of the public ministry cannot stop in the electoral period “Natural” sees the opening of research on Montenegro and Pedro Nuno. If we look at the calendar, only three elections will be held this year: legislativeThe municipality and the presidential. Therefore, the general ministry’s general activity cannot stop just because we are in the pre -commission or electoral period. “
Paulo is also cloth Ignore the possibility of violating the duty of confidentiality By announcing these preventive investigations, among other things because the facts were general. Moreover, “When an unknown complaint is entered into the PGR gate, the complainant has the stability of the number of complaints and facts, and it will be easily sent to the newspaper director, and if he comes after that he asks PGR if there is a complaint and what happened, then PGR will not deny the existence of the same.”
Political motives behind complaints
For his part, lawyer Paulo Saragaga Da Matta admits that there is Political motives Behind complaints and consider giving them to Known in the electoral period It can have an impact on the perception of the voters from the candidates.
“When a criminal investigation or a preventive investigation is used as general information, especially in the election campaign, the electoral Mass itself is manipulated. We wake up this doubt, which is always more or less powerful, less powerful, less powerful, less powerful, less powerful, less powerful, less powerful, Many citizens will be sensitive to the presence of preventive researchHe emphasizes.
The lawyer also indicates another problem. “Each of the political competitors will use general knowledge that there is a preventive investigation to attack the other competitor. This turns Criminal investigation into a political weaponMost. Submitting complaints On the Public Prosecutor’s office, it is archived. In 2023, there were about 2000 complaints, 56 % of which were filed by the owners of the unknown complaints and Only 14 % opened the investigation.
These numbers show that Most complaints are unfounded Or it lacks adequate evidence to make a criminal investigation. Most complaints They are not found at allTotally motivated, I would like to say, for feelings that can be psychologically justified but easy to morally. It also shows the fragility of the complaint owner.
For the object or a complainant, in 2023, the vast majority (45.2 %) belongs to the private sector, followed. The public sector, by 33.2 %. The sports sector is followed by 7.2 %, then international trade, and finally the specified sectors.
The number of anonymous complaints It exceeds the specified In any of the three years analyzed.
