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745/93 AI generated

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

Case Number 745/93
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 violations. 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, as this violates the constitutional principle of favoring the defendant.

Keywords

AI generated
Constitutional Principle Favor Legis Administrative Penalty Constitutional Violation Newer Law Application Decree-Law Unconstitutionality Defendant Protection

Cited Legislation

AI generated
Art. 29(4) of the Constitution
Art. 2 of Decree-Law 20-A/90
Art. 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90
AI generated
449/93
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.
248/93
Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
315/93
Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
562/93
Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.

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Full text

Acórdão 136/94

ACÓRDÃO N° 136/94

Processo nº 745/93

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, 26 de Janeiro de 1994

Luís Nunes de Almeida

Guilherme da Fonseca

Messias Bento

José de Sousa e Brito

Fernando Alves correia

Bravo Serra (vencido de harmonia com a declaração de voto que apus no Acórdão nº 227/92)

José Manuel Cardoso da Costa