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449/93 AI generated

Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.

Case Number 449/93
Court / Authority
Jurisdiction Portugal (PT)
Outcome Dismissed
Open official source Machine-readable Markdown (.md)

Legislator summary

AI generated

The Constitutional Court declared Articles 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90 unconstitutional for violating Article 29(4) of the Constitution. The Ministry of Public Prosecution argued these provisions should block the application of a newer, more favorable law to existing infractions. The court ruled that such laws cannot impede the application of subsequent legislation that offers greater leniency.

Legislator headnote

AI generated

Art. 29(4) of the Constitution; Art. 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90: Administrative regulations cannot be interpreted to prevent the application of subsequent laws that are more favorable to the offender.

Keywords

AI generated
Constitutional Supremacy Non-retroactivity More Favorable Law Administrative Penalties Legal Certainty

Cited Legislation

AI generated
Art. 29(4) of the Constitution
Art. 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90
AI generated
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Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
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Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating the principle of favor legis.
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Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.

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Full text

ACÓRDÃO N

ACÓRDÃO N.º 682/93

Processo n.º 449/93

2.ª Secção

Relator: Conselheiro Luís Nunes de Almeida

Acordam na 2.ª Secção do Tribunal Constitucional:

Nos presentes autos vindos do Supremo Tribunal Administrativo, em que é recorrente o Ministério Público e recorrido A. pelas razões constantes do acórdão nº 227/92 (publicado no Diário da República, II série, de 12 de Setembro de 1992), decide-se:

a) julgar inconstitucionais - por violação do artigo 29º, nº 4, da Constituição - os artigos 2º e 5º, nº 2, do Decreto-Lei nº 20-A/90, de 15 de Janeiro, interpretados no sentido de visarem impedir a aplicação da nova lei, ainda que mais favorável, às infracções que o Regime Jurídico, aprovado pelo citado decreto-lei, desgraduou em contra-ordenações;

b) Consequentemente, negar provimento ao recurso.

Lisboa, 4 de Novembro de 1993

Luís Nunes de Almeida

Messias Bento

Fernando Alves Correia

José de Sousa e Brito

Bravo Serra (vencido, nos termos da declaração aposta ao Acórdão n.º 227/92)

José Manuel Cardoso da Costa