The Group of States Against Corruption has sharply criticised Portugal’s lack of effort in removing the potential for the corruption of the judiciary and calls for greater independence of the judiciary.The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) today expressed its concern about Portugal's failure to comply with most of its previous recommendations designed to promote greater independence of the judiciary and to increase the public's trust in the justice system.
The frank criticism appeared in the conclusions of the Council of Europe's 4th evaluation report, in which it is also mentioned that Portugal has only ‘satisfactorily’ implemented one of GRECO's 15 recommendations. Of the remaining 14, only three have been ‘partially implemented,’ and eleven have not been implemented at all.
GRECO concludes that Portugal’s efforts are "generally unsatisfactory" and requests Portugal to report on progress in implementing the recommendations, by the end of 2018, “at the very latest.”
The Group says it is ‘disappointed’ that Portugal has not complied with "recommendations it considers crucial to promote greater independence of the judiciary and judges.”
The document concludes that the periodic evaluations of the nation's judges do not comply fairly, objectively and in a timely manner with existing rules and it criticizes the lack of disclosure of the results of disciplinary proceedings.
In contrast, GRECO commends the Public Prosecution Service for disclosing information about the outcome of its internal disciplinary procedures.
The report said that the new judicial map must be accompanied by a revision of the Statute of Magistrates of the Public Prosecutor, "in order to avoid undue or illegal interference or pressure from the hierarchy."
The Group of States against Corruption said it welcomes the fact that a reform is underway to strengthen the integrity, increase accountability and transparency, but politely notes that some standards are still in their infancy.
