The Government decided to promote the “strengthening of the criminal protection framework against attacks and crimes against a group of public servants, such as security forces, teaching and non-teaching staff, prison guards and health professionals (doctors, nurses and other professionals)” , public professionals in whom “it is essential to reinforce their authority,” explained Leitão Amaro, Minister of the Presidency, in the press conference after the Council of Ministers, where the initiative was approved.
The reinforcement will include an increase in the criminal framework against the aggressors of these public professionals, but also the exemption of legal costs for those who need to defend themselves in court and, also, the classification of crimes and attacks against some of these groups as public crimes, whose attacks do not constitute, today, a public crime.
Regarding the criminal framework, there will be changes in the minimum threshold, which in some cases does not exist, and in the maximum, indicates Leitão Amaro, highlighting the need to reinforce, also through the criminal framework, the authority of public professionals. The Minister of the Presidency has not yet revealed what this framework will be, which will be known when consultations are carried out with the sectors.
The measure was approved by the council of ministers, now followed by a period of mandatory consultations with the agents of the sector, and in that context it will be where the details will be known, after which the respective bill will go to Parliament.
Strengthening their authority is one of the measures that the Government says it is working on for professionals who, in some cases, have ongoing negotiations regarding remuneration. Miranda Sarmento and Leitão Amaro did not want to commit to the evolution of the negotiations, particularly with the security forces and teachers. “Intense and constructive negotiations are taking place. This Government values and respects public servants, particularly those who were forgotten, devalued during eight years of Government, security forces, military, teachers, non-teaching personnel, health professionals, judicial officials.
Leitão Amaro highlights that “professionals deserve to see their authority reinforced.”
The Minister of the Presidency refuses to comment on the news regarding the annual internal security report. It will soon be discussed in the Assembly of the Republic and that is where the Government will speak.
The Government admits a worrying increase in some crimes in 2023 and wants to change strategy
Source: Observadora
