The Assembly of the Republic rejected this Friday Chega’s proposal for the constitution of a parliamentary investigation commission on the role of the State in the reception and integration of Ukrainian citizens and in the establishment of alliances with Russian associations.
The initiative had the votes against the PS, the abstention of the PSD, PCP, BE and the sole deputy of Livre.
Enough, the Liberal Initiative and the only deputy of the PAN voted in favor.
Chega’s proposal provided for the “immediate constitution of a parliamentary investigation commission”which was to last four months.
The object would be to “investigate the role of the Portuguese State in the reception and integration of Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge in Portugal, in order to clarify the responsibilities of the public entities that chose to develop such activities in collaboration with associations of Russian citizens, and what possible consequences for the international image and credibility of our country”.
In an oral explanation of vote at the end of the vote this Friday, the leader of Chega considered that the “leadership” of this investigation commission “should shame this plenary session because, as a result of the hearings that were held, which this parliament demanded, António Costa was successively protected by the PS”.
“This parliament had the function of investigating and it rejected that investigation, it had the obligation to launch the only investigative instrument it has with powers equivalent to the judicial authorities, and it refused to do so,” criticized André Ventura.
After the Setúbal case, in which Ukrainian refugees were received by Russian citizens with alleged links to the Kremlin, Luís Montenegro (then a candidate and now the elected leader of the PSD) urged the parliamentary opposition to set up an investigation commission.
Why the Setúbal Chamber does not fall and 13 more answers about the refugee case
Two days later, Chega submitted a project to advance the investigation.
The party leader had already indicated that, if his proposal was rejected, he would try to gather the support of other parties to request an optional commission of investigation (mandatory).
On Thursday, André Ventura said that Chega is developing contacts with other political forces with this objective.
The Legal Regime of Parliamentary Consultations establishes that these are carried out “by express deliberation of the plenary” of the Assembly of the Republic or at the “request of one-fifth of the deputies in full exercise”, that is, 46.
As Chega’s parliamentary group is made up of 12 parliamentarians, the party needs to be accompanied by at least 34 deputies from other benches.
The PSD has already admitted that “does not rule out the possibility” of requesting a parliamentary investigation, but after the prime minister provides clarification in the plenary on the subject of the reception of Ukrainian refugees and the case of Setúbal.
Source: Observadora
