O poder legislativo no processo de consolidação democrática em Cabo Verde

O presente trabalho visa à composição de breve contextualização do histórico em que nasceu a democracia cabo-verdiana e as principais etapas que ao longo dos anos foi vencendo, rumo à almejada consolidação democrática, analisando em pormenor o papel do Legislativo para tanto. Nesse sentido, pretendemos neste estudo responder a seguinte pergunta de partida: “Qual o impacto do papel desempenhado pelo Legislativo no processo de consolidação democrática em Cabo Verde nesses últimos 20 anos?”. Este estudo nasce da necessidade de colmatar um vazio, quase que absoluto, no que diz respeito à análise do funcionamento, organização e estrutura da instituição parlamentar em Cabo Verde. Por isso, ao realizarmos esta investigação pretendemos alcançar dois objectivos principais: Averiguar até que ponto o papel do Parlamento contribuiu para a almejada consolidação democrática em Cabo Verde; Examinar de forma detalhada a evolução longitudinal da Assembleia de Cabo Verde ao longo de sua experiência democrática. Para tal, serão analisadas três áreas importantes do funcionamento desta instituição, de 1991 a 2011: o processo legislativo, os mecanismos de controlo e fiscalização ao governo e a função de legitimação. Todavia, temos a perfeita consciência de que as três dimensões seleccionadas não esgotam os campos de análise de contribuição parlamentar para o reforço da democracia. No entanto, pretendemos com o estudo tentar informar e dar a conhecer, de forma científica e académica, a actuação da instituição parlamentar no processo de consolidação democrática em Cabo Verde, com uma abordagem diferente dos poucos estudos já realizados.

O processo sumário e a reforma do Código do Processo Penal de 2013

The present work aims to develop the theme "The summary procedure and the reform of 2013". The purpose of its analysis serves the interest to understand the virtues and disadvantages of the changes introduced by Act n.º 20/2013 to our Code of Criminal Procedure, and the main focus of the present reflection is to further the impact of the measures taken by the legislator to the summary proceedings. The opening of the most serious crimes to summary procedure is a reform measure duly highlighted because it is a true innovation in the Portuguese penal system. Therefore, it urges to analyse not only the consequences of this measure, as well as if the objectives of its introduction in the summary procedure system are met. It should be noted that the legislator intends to promote speedy trial, and at the same time, ensure compliance with the Constitutional rights associated to the accused. At this point it is important to realize if there is a restriction of the accused essential guarantees. On the other hand, it should be noted that the typical characteristics of summary proceedings might have been invariably modified, due to the innovative aspect of the reform. That said, the changes might have fostered a mischaracterization of the typical format of the summary procedure, both in terms of the nature of the proceedings and in terms of its space and objectives within the penal system. Reflecting on the above will provide a deeper understanding of the volatile balance between the Portuguese governing prosecution efficiency and the Constitution, as well as the future of the criminal policy in Portugal.

A presunção de inocência nas fases preliminares do processo penal

This study analyses the principle of presumption of innocence in the preliminary stages of the Portuguese criminal process, its procedural aspect related with the principle of in dubio pro reo and its material aspect concerning the treatment of the defendant during the proceedings. The consequences and manifestations of the principle of presumption of innocence are analysed in the decisions of the closing stages of the preliminary criminal procedure and the application of the principle of in dubio pro reo is analysed in the judgement of sufficiency of evidence for the procedure to continue. It addresses the question of circumstantial evidence, its particular relevance in economic and financial crime, highly organized crime, the grounds for the indictment in general and when the sufficiency of evidence criteria is based on that evidence. It analyses the scope of the principle of presumption of innocence in the application of coercive measures, with reference to the arrest, first interrogation of the accused under detention and reasons for the subsequent dispatch about the measures. The asset assurance measures of preventive seizure and the preventive seizure to ensure confiscation are analysed and principle of presumption of innocence is considered non applicable to those measures.

"A testemunha-vítima e o dieito de recusa de depoimento, no Código de Processo Penal

Study of the problems involved in the application of the right of refusal to testify (Article 134. º CPP) to criminal charges of domestic violence, namely in situations of violence between spouses. Drawing attention, to some of the contingencies of the exercise of the right of refusal in such proceedings, a matter never before examined under Portuguese law, and also to the need to reconsider, based on the North American experience, the application of the law in these cases.