The parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Alexandra Leitão, met with the Minister of Justice, Rita Júdice, in the Assembly of the Republic, to discuss the adoption of a new package of measures against corruption in 60 days.

To journalists, the socialist assured that "the PS expressed its full availability to talk and work with the Government and with other parties in order to pursue common goals".

In the meeting, it was emphasized, however, that "there have recently been two important reforms", namely the Transparency Package, in 2019, "which culminated in the creation of the Transparency Entity that is fully operational", and "the anti-corruption package that culminated in the creation of the anti-corruption mechanism, MENAC, in 2021, which is working".

These entities "must also have their time to work, for all this to be evaluated and not to be reversed. Our idea is to be fully available to improve, to make it more efficient, but also to emphasize that we have already had these two very important moments", she argued to journalists.

In the same statements, the leader of the socialist bench assured that there is "alignment" and "great consonance" "regarding two aspects that remained unregulated", 'lobbying' and the "legislative footprint".

It will be necessary, however, "to continue working and thinking about some aspects of the electoral program of the Democratic Alliance (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), which are now part of the Government's program, which raise some doubts for us to work on at the level of constitutionality". Namely, "confiscation and illicit enrichment".

Speaking about the Government's proposal for tax reduction approved in the Council of Ministers this week, Alexandra Leitão said that it is being analyzed by the socialists. "It is confirmed that the approved document is an almost incremental change to what had already been approved by the previous Government and in force with the State Budget for 2024", she retorted, adding: "It is confirmed, in fact, that these are small changes and it is therefore confirmed that much of what had been advanced, namely in the electoral campaign, by the AD, the great tax relief, in fact incorporates 80 and a large percentage of what were already PS measures".

On whether the socialists will vote against the proposal, Alexandra Leitão said only: "We are still analyzing".

The Minister of Justice will meet with all parliamentary groups to discuss issues related to the fight against corruption. She has already met with the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Socialist Party (PS) and Chega, as well as the People-Animals-Nature (PAN), to discuss the Executive's future efforts in the fight against corruption.

The meetings will continue on Monday, the 22nd, with IL (09h00), BE (10h00), PCP (11h00), Livre (12h00) and CDS (14h30).

[News updated at 18:22]

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