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A Ministra da Justiça de Portugal, Rita Júdice, rejeitou acusações de conflito de interesses ligadas a ações em empresas familiares de turismo e imóveis. Ela diz que declarou seus interesses financeiros e que suas empresas não serão beneficiadas por mudanças nas leis de terras. Outros políticos também têm ligações com o setor imobiliário.
Translation
The Portuguese Minister of Justice, Rita Júdice, has dismissed allegations of a conflict of interest related to her involvement in family-run tourism and property companies. She states that she has declared her financial interests and asserts that her businesses will not gain any advantage from changes in land laws. Other politicians are also connected to the real estate sector.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What did Rita Júdice declare regarding her financial interests?
Rita Júdice declared her financial interests.
Question 2: According to the summary, who else has connections to the real estate sector?
Other politicians also have connections to the real estate sector.
Exercise: Vocabulary
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▌24/02/2025
Portugal's Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, has dismissed allegations of a conflict of interest related to her shares in family businesses involved in real estate and tourism. Addressing the public speculation, her office confirmed that all financial interests were properly declared to the Entity for Transparency, which monitors such matters alongside the Constitutional Court.
The controversy emerged following a report by the national broadcaster RTP, highlighting Júdice’s ownership stakes in four companies. These businesses are engaged in activities such as real estate and tourism, raising questions amidst ongoing parliamentary discussions about modifying the existing land-use laws. The amendments in question could potentially reclassify rural land as urban, affecting property development opportunities.
Júdice clarified that her companies do not possess properties that could benefit from the land law amendments. She insisted there was no intention to divest her personal assets, which have been accumulated through the efforts of herself and her family. Her statement aimed to address any doubts about her involvement affecting legislative outcomes.
Justice Minister Denies Land Law Conflict of Interest (Illustration)
This issue extends beyond Júdice, with other government officials also linked to the real estate sector. For instance, Minister of Labour, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, holds a majority stake in a consulting firm with real estate interests, and Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, recently sold his shares in a property business. Even Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has past connections to the real estate industry, although he transferred his company shares to his spouse in 2022.
These revelations have become a focal point as the Portuguese parliament evaluates changes to the Regime Jurídico dos Instrumentos de Gestão Territorial (RJIGT). The debate has been further inflamed by a motion of no confidence against the government, rejected in parliament with support only from Chega and an independent deputy. The PSD, meantime, pointed out that even some Chega deputies have real estate interests, underscoring the widespread nature of such connections within political circles.
The land law amendments were enacted on 29 January following refusals to annul it, despite objections from several parties. The Socialists' abstention played a key role in this outcome, aligning with changes agreed upon with the government and the PSD, steering the policy towards a favourable conclusion.
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