In statements to Antena 1, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco said that Lucília Gago should speak out so that a climate of suspicion is not created.

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco said that he does not believe that "there is premeditated conduct, on the left or on the right, to create political facts through criminal investigation".

"None of us wants to believe that there is premeditated conduct on the left or on the right to provoke a certain political fact through criminal investigation, but the truth is that nobody lives alone in the world and it needs to be explained, because if it is explained and if the situation, when explained, makes it clear that there is no suspicion, I think that we are contributing to these two worlds coexisting in a healthier way for democracy", he said.

As a guest on the edition that marked the four years of Antena 1's Geometria Variável programme, the president of the AR considered that a regime pact is essential to clarify cases in the justice system, but with a methodology "to get there".

"I hope that the pact happens. The methodology to get there is important", he said.

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco was thus commenting on issues related to the Legislative and Regional elections in Madeira, which originated in investigations by the Public Ministry.

Asked if justice tramples on democracy, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco said that he could not draw a conclusion of that nature.

"Because I start from the principle that things do not happen with that intention and that happens involuntarily, which even more justifies the need to clarify and have the spaces where the Portuguese can understand; I think that the Assembly of the Republic is the space of excellence for that to happen", he said.

José Pedro Aguiar-Branco was Minister of Justice in 2004 and proposed a regime pact for the sector, which is late, having already referred to the need for the Attorney General of the Republic to give explanations in Parliament.

The president of the AR also said that he considers the incompatibility regime of politicians to be excessive.

"I think that an excess of incompatibility regime was created in Portugal, which led to this. I am in favour of the maximum expression of the register of interest so that, in case of conflict, what I am, as a deputy holding an executive position, if I have done anything that violates this conflict of interest, can be scrutinised and punished", he said.

In José Pedro Aguiar-Branco's opinion, so much incompatibility makes it difficult to recruit political personnel for the parties.

However, the president of the AR understands that the parties have to open up to society, with greater participation, involvement and party recruitment.

Read Also: "Democracy is of a magnificent fragility, we have to take care of it" (Portuguese version)