Judicial Year Kicks Off with Protests and No Catholic Church Representation

Official Opening of the Judicial Year
The judicial year officially opens this Monday in a ceremony at the Noble Hall of the Supreme Court of Justice, amid protests from judicial staff against proposed career revisions. Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice stated that negotiations with unions are ongoing and that more professionals are expected to join soon. Notably, this year marks the first absence of any representative from the Catholic Church at the ceremony.

Concerns Over Justice Delays
One of the major concerns for the Portuguese is the slowness of the justice system. Minister Júdice expressed “moderate optimism” regarding measures being implemented to address this issue. She acknowledged the complaints about delays but emphasized that justice cannot be instant. The government has been working on electronic processing of cases and improving conditions for judicial officials and magistrates.

New Judicial Staff
This year, approximately 600 new judicial officials are set to begin their roles next week, and changes are being made to the access regime to magistracies to attract new candidates.

Protests and Negotiations
Regarding the protests scheduled for today, Minister Júdice highlighted that negotiation has been a priority since she took office, and a review of the profession's statute has already been agreed upon. The next negotiation meeting is set for this week. However, she noted that the initial proposal from the Ministry was not immediately accepted by the unions, which are considering a counterproposal.

Concerns About Information Leaks
The Minister also addressed concerns over information leaks, which pose a risk to investigations. She stressed the importance of better communication from magistrates to the public while handling leaks more seriously. Violations of judicial secrecy should be punished, she added.

Ceremony Highlights
The official opening ceremony will feature new figures such as the new Attorney General, Amadeu Guerra, and the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco. Meanwhile, a silent protest by the Judicial Staff Union will take place outside the ceremony, highlighting their opposition to the proposed career revisions by the government.

Key Issues in the Judicial Year
This judicial year is expected to be marked by several high-profile cases, including the BES case, Operation Marquês, and Operation Influencer. Notably, former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho will testify in the BES case, with numerous sessions already scheduled. Other significant cases include the Lex operation, involving corruption allegations against judges, and developments in the Operation Influencer related to the recent government collapse.

Absence of the Catholic Church
For the first time, there will be no representative from the Catholic Church at the opening ceremony. This decision was made by the event's organizers, who felt that the Church's presence was no longer necessary for what is strictly an official ceremony. The Patriarchate confirmed it did not receive an invitation this year, marking a departure from long-standing tradition.