PSD proposes suspension of limitation periods in cases of lawyer replacement

The PSD has submitted a proposal to parliament to suspend limitation periods for criminal proceedings when a defence lawyer is replaced, in order to prevent delaying tactics. If this proposal were already in force, it could affect cases such as that of former Prime Minister José Sócrates, who has had four lawyers of his own choosing as well as several court-appointed ones in the Operation Marquês case, which is currently on trial. The proposal involves an amendment to Article 120 of the Penal Code, which provides for the suspension of the limitation period during the time that the 'instructional debate, hearing, or act in which assistance is necessary is interrupted or postponed due to the replacement of the defendant's counsel'. The bill submitted to the Assembly of the Republic is an amendment to the Government's proposal to change the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Regulation on Court Costs, which is currently under discussion in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees.