The clarification from the Ministry of Justice comes after the Automóvel Clube de Portugal (ACP) appealed to the Assembly of the Republic to vote against the Government's decision to pardon young people up to the age of 30 who have committed road crimes, such as driving with alcohol.

The Ministry of Justice states that, “contrary to the message disseminated by the ACP”, the Government's bill, which establishes forgiveness of sentences and amnesty for offenses committed by young people between 16 and 30 years of age, “contains substantive limits of its application", with a set of exceptions that are not covered "neither by pardon nor by amnesty".

According to the Ministry of Justice, those convicted of the crime of dangerous driving and driving a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics or psychotropic substances do not benefit from pardon and amnesty, nor, in the context of offences, committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Last week, the Council of Ministers approved a diploma that establishes the pardon of sentences and amnesty for crimes and infractions committed by young people between 16 and 30 years old, in connection with the Pope's visit to Portugal on the occasion of World Youth Day, which takes place in the first week of August.

The diploma, which will be analysed by the Assembly of the Republic, determines a one-year pardon for all sentences of up to eight years in prison, with an amnesty regime also being established, which includes administrative offenses whose maximum applicable fine limit does not exceed 1,000 euros and criminal offenses whose penalty does not exceed one year in prison or a fine of 120 days.

The Government's bill also includes other exceptions to pardons and amnesty, not benefiting, in particular, those who have committed crimes of homicide, infanticide, domestic violence, mistreatment, serious offense to physical integrity, female genital mutilation, offensive to qualified physical integrity, forced marriage, kidnapping, against freedom and sexual self-determination, extortion, discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence, influence peddling, money laundering or corruption.