This position of the socialist leader Augusto Santos Silva was transmitted on his personal Facebook account after the MP decided to close the case regarding the demonstration of PSP agents and GNR guards on February 19, next to the Capitol, where the debate between the PS leaders, Pedro Nuno Santos, and AD, Luís Montenegro, was taking place.

In his note, Augusto Santos Silva starts by pointing out that, in the last electoral campaign, "the debate between the two candidates for prime minister took place under a siege set up by PSP agents and GNR guards, out of uniform, in a direct and unprecedented threat to democratic power".

"Today we learned that the PSP was unable to identify those responsible for this unworthy act and that the Public Ministry has closed the case. It is as if nothing had happened", criticises the former president of the Assembly of the Republic.

Then, Augusto Santos Silva draws the following conclusion: "We regret the difficulty of vision of the uniformed police officers present and we praise the readiness of the conclusion drawn by the MP".

"It is a relief to know that the guarantee of democratic order is in such good hands", he adds.

On February 19, hundreds of police officers gathered next to the Capitólio cinema theatre, where a debate was taking place between the two main candidates for prime minister in the legislative elections of March 10, after a gathering that brought together around 3,000 members of the PSP and GNR in Praça do Comércio.

This gathering in Praça do Comércio was authorised and was organised by the platform that brings together the PSP unions and GNR associations.

The protest next to the Capitol was scheduled on social media by the 'inop movement' and did not have the participation of the platform, and it was also through those networks that all the guidelines that the police officers should follow were launched.

The news about the closing of the investigation into the "Capitol siege", the name by which the demonstration of the security forces became known, was released today by the newspaper Público.

Today, the PSP told the Lusa agency that it had opened 43 disciplinary proceedings against police officers who participated in the spontaneous gathering held next to the Capitol.

"As a result of the aforementioned investigation process, it was determined that 43 disciplinary proceedings be opened, which are currently underway in various PSP territorial commands, which are still under investigation", indicates the PSP.

In addition to opening this investigation process, the PSP informed the Public Ministry (MP) about the unauthorised parade and gathering next to the Capitólio cinema theatre, forcing the unexpected closure of several streets in Lisbon.

Read Also: MP closes investigation into the Capitol siege during police protest (Portuguese version)