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172/93 AI generated

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

Case Number 172/93
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 challenged the laws which prevented the application of newer, more favorable regulations to existing infractions. The court ruled that such provisions must be struck down to ensure the principle of favoring the accused is respected.

Legislator headnote

AI generated

Art. 29(4) of the Constitution; Art. 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90: Administrative regulations that block the application of newer, more favorable laws to existing infractions violate the constitutional principle of favoring the accused and must be declared unconstitutional.

Keywords

AI generated
Constitutional Principle Favoring the Accused Administrative Penalty Constitutional Invalidity Newer Favorable Law Public Prosecution Legal Hierarchy

Cited Legislation

AI generated
Art. 29(4) of the Constitution
Art. 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90
AI generated
453/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating constitutional rights.
256/93
Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating due process rights.
475/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
248/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
TC_19940113
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating the principle of favorability. The court ruled that new laws must apply even if they downgrade offenses to minor violations. This decision upholds the constitutional right to the most favorable legal interpretation. The court confirmed the lower court's finding of unconstitutionality.

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Full text

Acórdão 69/94

ACÓRDÃO N° 69/94

Processo nº 172/93

2ª Secção

Relator: Conselheiro Luís Nunes de Almeida

Acordam, na 2ª 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, 19 de Janeiro de 1994

Luís Nunes de Almeida

Guilherme da Fonseca

José de Sousa e Brito

Fernando Alves Correia

Bravo Serra (vencido, de harmonia com o voto exarado no Acórdão nº 227/92)

José Manuel Cardoso da Costa