Portuguese Socialist MP to return to politics after paedophilia charges dropped

Lusa news agency web site, Lisbon

[Former Socialist minister, party spokesman and MP] Paulo Pedroso is likely to be reinstated to the political posts for which he has been elected, including his senior position at the Socialist Party's [PS] secretariat, the Socialist party spokesman, Vieira da Silva, announced on Tuesday [1 June].

Speaking at a news conference held after a meeting of the PS national secretariat, Vieira da Silva welcomed yesterday's ruling [by a judge reviewing charges in the high-profile child sex abuse case at the Casa Pia state-run children's home in Lisbon] exempting Paulo Pedroso from trial [and dismissing charges against him], and added that the terms under which Pedroso announced his desire to return to political life "were understood and accepted" by the party leadership.

"Paulo Pedroso has the conditions to fulfil every role for which he has been elected", Vieira da Silva declared, in a reference to Pedroso's job as an MP and his eventual return to the party leadership.

After being informed of the judge's ruling, yesterday, Paulo Pedroso issued a communique announcing his intention to return to parliament and active political life in the Socialist Party after the upcoming European election.