Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, while we are debating the package for the defence of democracy, Spain holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and, tomorrow, Pedro Sanchez will speak for the first time in Strasbourg. Pedro Sánchez has been fleeing the European Parliament for six months. This is only because the rule of law is being violated in Spain. In a democracy, no party leader – even more so after losing elections – can change crimes, sentences, pardons and amnesties in exchange for gaining power, as Pedro Sánchez does. Justice is not a business, nor can it be manipulated on the basis of anyone's personal or partisan interests. In a democracy, parliaments do not interfere with court decisions, but want to set up investigative committees that assess court decisions. In a democracy, politicians do not threaten judges who disagree with an amnesty that violates the Constitution and the European Treaties, as do the radicals of Sumar, filing a complaint against judges we want free. In a democracy no rules are changed so that constitutional courts can be a political instrument of governments. Spain is currently violating the rule of law, the principle of separation of powers and putting intolerable pressure on judges, typical of totalitarian states. Let us imagine that this was happening in Poland or Hungary, what would not the left be saying and demanding here? Let's think about this when we talk about democracy. Mostly, let's do something.

I will be very sincere and, with all due respect, what is happening in Malta embarrasses the European Union. And I tell you, from the purchase of nationalities, what cannot happen in a country that claims to be democratic, to the murder of a journalist, who is in fact investigated, has been investigated for years, but it is known, and it is public, that it happened by investigating corruption cases associated with a government and after years they have no answer and they have no justice.

Madam President, Commissioner, the murder of Daphne Caruana Galicia allows us to see the violation of the rule of law in the general aspect that needs to be fought. In fact, when a journalist is murdered in Malta because she investigates corruption cases that may involve rulers and the Maltese authorities do not cooperate with the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the rule of law is being violated, as has often and unfortunately been the case in the European Union. When, in Spain, a socialist government appoints ministers to control the Constitutional Court, the rule of law is violated, as when, in Spain, legal definitions of crimes are changed or amnesties are negotiated so that those who have lost elections can govern, the rule of law is violated. When a Prime Minister in Slovakia supports the regime of Vladimir Putin and the Russian aggression in Ukraine, which destroys villages, towns and cities and indiscriminately murders civilians to assert a political aspect, the rule of law is violated. When, in Portugal, metadata laws are maintained that are known to violate decisions of the Court of Justice and lead to the destruction of criminal investigations, or laws on the appointment of judges are not regulated, which then serve as a pretext for resources and to make life easier for those who are investigated by justice, the rule of law is violated. All this to say the following, my dear friends, the rule of law is not violated according to whether parties in governments are left-wing or right-wing. That is why I do not understand, nor do I accept, that the left in this Parliament is sectarian when it points the finger, that it only finds sins when governments are right-wing in Hungary or Poland and forgets all the other cases in Malta, Slovakia, Spain or Portugal. The rule of law is a matter of principle. (The speaker agreed to answer a question under the blue card procedure)

Mr President, Commissioner, southern Europe and Portugal in particular are already experiencing the consequences of global warming. It's not predictions, it's reality. We are faced with extreme heat waves, extreme cold, erosion of coastal areas, reduction of groundwater, increased fires. In 2022, Portugal experienced the worst hydrological drought situation in the last 100 years, with 55% of the territory in severe drought and 45% in extreme drought. We must reconcile environmental concerns with people's needs and we must see technology and science as allies in the future. We need ponds, mini-bars, new dams, dam elevation, desalination plants. We need much more funding from the European Union. Let me end with an example: when my party was in government, it was responsible for the 10-year anticipation of the Alqueva dam, which worked a miracle in the interior of the country, turning a dryland area into irrigation. Let the European Union inspire this so that much more can be done.

Madam President, Commissioner, what separates Christian democracy, which my party – the CDS-PP – represents, from the extreme – left and the extreme – right, is the European project, it is democracy and it is freedom. We do not do as the Portuguese socialists do, who only contemplate the extreme-right and forget their sectarianism, the extreme-left. The more far-left and far-right parties grow, the more the European Union will languish, the more compressed our democracies will be and the more our freedoms will be at risk. That is why this fight, which is also being waged in the forthcoming European elections, is a fight for our way of life and for the defence of Western-style liberal democracies. What the new peoples must realize when they enjoy 78 years of peace, food autonomy, an internal market of close to 450 million people, free movement and the greatest investment ever in social policies, is that there is no reason to bet on those who replace ideas and tolerance with radicalism and inflamed demagogy and on those who exchange the lucidity of reason for the cynical exploitation of emotions. What I promise you, in this fight, is that my party will remain faithful between the market and social concerns, will continue to put people at the centre of political action, will insist on representing the democratic right, rejecting softness in speech, rejecting radicalism, respecting differences, being Christian-Democratic in doctrine, open to conservatives and liberals, defending a secular state, but not fleeing or turning the Pope into a political adversary. Such a right, such as the one represented by the CDS, is very much needed by Portugal and is needed in the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, the digital revolution is redefining all aspects of life in society. Crime is no exception. More and more criminals are using technology to plan and commit crimes of a wide nature, including cross-border crimes. Cases of paedophilia, child pornography, bullying, financial crimes or terrorism are just a few examples of crimes where electronic evidence can be absolutely decisive for criminals to be located, investigated, prosecuted and convicted. This initiative represents a significant step in the fight against crime and terrorism in our daily lives. In the digital age, where information flows unhindered across borders, criminals and terrorists exploit technological advances. It is essential that we adapt our legal framework to the new reality. The e-evidence regulation will help cooperation, collection, preservation and exchange of e-evidence between Member States, but with legal certainty. The possibility of submitting requests for disclosure or custody of electronic evidence directly to a service provider in another Member State, with deadlines and rules, is a giant step in the fight against crimes. Imagine a ready-made terrorist attack. online, involving people from different countries. Without effective cross-border cooperation and access to e-evidence it would become very difficult to dismantle these networks. But with this regulation in place, authorities will have the necessary or more effective tools to track digital footprints, collect evidence and bring criminals to justice. As EPP rapporteur, I can only regret and underline the long path of negotiation between Parliament and the Council: It was five years. Even so, I believe that today we are making history, which translates into a paradigm shift and a much greater effectiveness in the fight against crime in the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, corruption undermines the foundations of the European Union, weakens the institutions that represent us and is perhaps primarily responsible for the rise of extremism. In states governed by the rule of law and respecting the principle of the separation of powers, justice is supposed to be able to fight corruption effectively. The problem is that this is not always the case. Every time someone with political responsibilities, from officials of the different bodies representing power to politicians, is involved in the webs of corruption, it is the entire democratic regime that pays. That is why we cannot tolerate a system that proves incapable of judging and punishing, often because crimes prescribe, because of the slowness of justice. As I speak, after a major media scandal, there is a former Prime Minister of Portugal who may not be tried for very serious crimes, because they may be time-barred. It is not about being acquitted or convicted. It is a matter of not even being judged, which is unacceptable and no good person understands it. It's just disgusting. The peoples of Europe do not tolerate justice that is not blind, that is not the same for the rich and the poor, and this must be combated. We can't just resign ourselves and lower our arms. Corruption has perverse effects on society, democracies, the economy, weakens the institutions we trust, reduces the credibility of those institutions. That is why I welcome this initiative. This proposal for a directive shows that we do not comply, that we demand more in order to defend the credibility of the institutions, the founding values of the Union, democracy and equality. I will finish, Madam President. The message we want to send is clear: We do not tolerate corruption in the European Union. We demand that those who commit acts of corruption be held accountable.

Madam President, Commissioner, access to and storage of energy sources is a strategic concern on a global scale. It should be recalled, in this regard, that the European Union is a net importer of energy, with 58% of available energy produced outside the Member States in 2020. A path towards imposing sustainable and clean forms of energy production only makes sense if science can keep up with the vision of policymakers. If the targets imposed by the European Commission, the Council and Parliament are unachievable, the consequence will be an intolerable increase in energy prices and difficulties for our businesses and economies. In this context, investment in efficient forms of storage of energy produced by various means, and particularly energy from clean or renewable sources, such as solar, wind or hydrogen, can be crucial for the success of environmentally friendly decisions, without major impact on the balance of economies on a global scale. Moreover, the development of these new technologies will in itself be an opportunity for scientific and technological development, leveraging many business opportunities. This is an area that the European Union can and should want to lead on a global scale. That is why it is so important to be rational at the decision-making level – this at the political level – without dogmatic assertions but alongside the possibilities of science, which, in turn, should be financially supported, at the level of research and project implementation. Funding processes must be simple and fast, and the governments of the countries must live up to the ambition of the European institutions. A more sustainable planet, business opportunities, a better future for new generations – this is what we can achieve.

Madam President, Members of the Commission and of the Council, in order to combat organised crime, justice must be provided. And I ask: what can lead a government to allow the prescription of crimes and the annulment of proceedings that benefit potential criminals, instead of giving the courts the means to do justice? That's what's happening in Portugal as I speak. Numerous cases are being overturned because the socialist government insisted on a law to collect evidence using metadata which, it knew, was based on a 2006 directive, which the Court of Justice of the European Union had ruled invalid, and then, predictably, was found unconstitutional in the country. There are numerous other cases that are being appealed, because a law on the appointment of judges passed in 2021, which would have to be regulated by the government within 30 days, after one year and seven months only had nothing from the government. As a result, government failures are reported to paralyse the trial involving a former socialist prime minister in corruption cases and crimes begin to be time-barred in 2024. For his part, the director of the office that coordinates the activity of the Public Prosecutor's Office in the area of cybercrime reported that dozens of cases of child pornography have already been destroyed, both during the investigation and at the trial stage, and the investigation of scams or bullying made through the Internet. There are thousands of crimes at present at risk of prescription in Portugal. I am sorry to say, but when this happens it is the rule of law that is at stake. All this was known. All this has been anticipated. By the way, I have already asked the European Commission to speak in writing. I very much hope that the European Commission, and by the way the Council, will be able to keep an eye on the case and, if possible, intervene.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, we must be aware that corruption is one of the greatest enemies of democracies. Corruption not only undermines the foundations of the regime, it also favors the growth of extremist parties that win votes by exploiting feelings of revolt, with the aim of destroying democracies, in a paradox that it is important that we be able to explain to the peoples. Democracies are a greater good that we must know how to protect. Fighting corruption must be one of the first concerns of true democrats. Let us be clear: Every time politicians rise to power on the basis of promises they do not keep, they do not resist the temptation of embezzlement, they appropriate taxpayers' money, they illegitimately favour people and businesses or they are corrupted, they commit sins without forgiveness. It is because of politicians like that, all over Europe, we have seen the growth of far-left and far-right parties, which unite in votes against the European Union, against the Euro, against NATO and which, in many cases, support the Russian aggression in Ukraine. This leads me to a fundamental conclusion: true democrats must be able to fight corruption effectively to strengthen democracies and weaken extremism. This fight must take place in the European Parliament and in each of our countries. The CDS-PP, which is the only center-right Christian-Democratic party in Portugal, has the fight against corruption at the top of its political agenda. What separates the CDS-PP from the extremist parties is democracy, it is freedom. Precisely for this reason, the future growth of the CDS-PP is fundamental for Portugal and is fundamental for the European Union.

Madam President, colleagues, as a Portuguese, I feel a great connection to Spain, a country with which we share borders, culture and many affections. So it is with respect that I say that I am very sorry that in Spain, as in Portugal, the socialists share the same shortcomings. For socialists, power matters only by power, and to achieve it any business prevails over reasons of principle. In Portugal, to govern despite losing the elections, the socialists and António Costa allied themselves with the far left that rejects the Euro, NATO and the European Union itself. Similarly, in Spain, the socialists and Pedro Sánchez give left-wing radicals and independentists whatever it takes to stay in power. When the rule of law is attacked, the acts are reprehensible by reason of principle and not because a government is left-wing or right-wing. In Spain, the socialists and Pedro Sánchez want to once againenuelize the country and control the judiciary, ending decades-long democratic consensus. What is condemned in Hungary or Poland must also be condemned in Spain. This Parliament must raise its voice. This Parliament must be able to raise its voice and must be able to fight for the defence of the principle of the separation of powers and the rule of law in Spain. Because, fighting for the rule of law in Spain, we are fighting for democracy across the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, when human beings are executed with their hands tied, throats cut and shot in the head, war crimes are committed. When women and children between the ages of four and eighty-two are raped by Russian soldiers, war crimes are committed. When civilian buildings, including nurseries, hospitals, residential buildings, are bombed, indiscriminately killing civilians, men, women, children and the elderly, war crimes are committed. When cluster bombs and other weapons prohibited in international treaties are used, war crimes are committed. In the 21st century, humanity does not have to be forced to accept medieval violence and live with the worst that we thought was extinct at the end of World War II. In this regard, to be or not to be a member of the International Criminal Court cannot be a reason for not doing the justice that the dead and the crippled demand and civilization demands. This is what this European Parliament must do here.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, there is no freedom of the press without working conditions. In many countries of the European Union, starting with Portugal, most journalists have miserable salaries and jobs are precarious. All freedom is thus conditioned by a justified sense of injustice and revolt. There is no freedom of the press without diversity. The increasing placement of media outlets under the umbrella of the same financial groups kills diversity, aligning more and more journalists with the filter of fewer and fewer editorial lines. There is no freedom of the press without the independence of political power. Aid from governments that are represented by political parties to media outlets in extreme difficulties undermines the necessary distancing between those who inform and some political power, justifying all suspicions. Finally, there is no freedom of the press without freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. In the European Union, built on respect for freedom and fundamental rights, journalists are physically intimidated and even murdered because they want to report. In this regard, register, the International Federation of Journalists reports that in 2022 67 journalists died in the world, compared to 47 last year. There are currently 375 journalists in detention, many of them European. The European Parliament is on the right side of this story, it is on the side of the free press.