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672/93 AI generated

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

Case Number 672/93
Court / Authority
Jurisdiction Portugal (PT)
Outcome Dismissed
Open official source Machine-readable Markdown (.md)

Legislator summary

AI generated

The Portuguese 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 prevented the application of newer, more favorable laws to infractions previously classified as minor offenses. The court ruled that such administrative regulations cannot override the constitutional principle of favoring the defendant when new legislation 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 newer, more favorable laws to infractions that were previously downgraded to minor offenses, as this violates the constitutional principle of favoring the defendant.

Keywords

AI generated
Constitutional Principle Favoring the Defendant Administrative Penalty Constitutional Violation Newer Legislation Minor Offenses 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
171/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
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Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
464/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating the principle of favor legis.
8/94
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
217/93
Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.

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Full text

Acórdão 72/94

ACÓRDÃO N° 72/94

Processo nº 672/93

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