Portuguese MP asks for suspension of his mandate

Diario de Noticias web site, Lisbon

Paulo Pedroso's mandate as an MP has been suspended. Yesterday, the parliamentary ethics committee unanimously approved a request to this effect from the former PS [Socialist Party] spokesman. After being formally indicted in the Casa Pia [state-run home for children at risk] process [paedophilia case], Paulo Pedroso asked o be relieved from his parliamentary duties until the case-preparation stage of the process is concluded.

According o the rules, an MP's temporary suspension cannot last more than 10 months per mandate. As Pedroso has already been suspected for four months and eight days (while he was kept on remand), this new suspension can only last five months and 22 days. If within this time the case-preparation is not concluded, Pedroso will have to return to parliament and step down as MP.

However, if during this period Paulo Pedroso sees the charges against him confirmed then the suspension has no legal deadline and it will be up to the ethics committee to define its duration.