MPs who do not submit a declaration of income or assets risk losing their mandate, according to a proposal presented Monday by the Socialist Party in another attempt to increase transparency in Portuguese politics.
This amendment to the Statute of MPs includes follows the amendment that an MP may not accept gifts of a value over €150.
"Members of Parliament lose their mandate if they fail to comply with their duties regarding the declaration of assets and registration of interests,” according to the Socialist Party’s amendment.
The latest move to tighten up on MPs includes them having to declare all their income, including assets, inheritances and bank debts, whether in Portugal or abroad.
This is a result of the work done by the Commission for the 'Reinforcement of Transparency in the exercise of Public Functions,' and will include similar declarations for those running councils - and parishes with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
Then there is an inevitable additional layer of supervision with the creation of an Entity for Transparency in Public Functions which will ensure "greater assertiveness" in monitoring the compliance by MPs in fulfilling their obligations to deliver income statements.
If irregularities are detected, the new entity will submit a file either to parliament, to the Tax Authority or to the Public Prosecution, depending on the area of infraction.
Those not filing income tax returns now will be committing a criminal offence, under the new rules.
According to a bill introduced by the Socialists, a sentence of up to three years is applicable for those who present "unjustifiably low capital increases or decreases" if they exceed 50 times the national minimum wages - €29,000.
These are all just proposals so far with work due to finish at the end of February before amendments are discussed and voted on ... by MPs.
