The first investigators, led by the public prosecutor, Encarnacao, Neves, Amaral and Rebelo were unable to gather enough evidence to charge the McCanns, but they had enough to suspect them.
The German investigators are reluctant to share their evidence and media stories don't amount to reliable records imo. Very little of their evidence is known.
There wasn't any evidence to sustain the decision to make Kate and Gerry McCann suspects in Madeleine's disappearance though, was there.
More than enough propaganda 'leaked' to the Portuguese press ... but absolutely NO EVIDENCE.
In my opinion they hoped to frighten Kate into confessing something she hadn't done but with her lawyer in attendance and the eyes of the world on them, they miscalculated that one badly.
In contrast the present German investigation - which has gone out of its way to confirm that Kate and Gerry are in the clear - are very well aware that they do not yet have grounds to lay charges against their prime suspect who they have not yet named in accordance with German law.
Of course the Germans are not 'sharing' evidence in a very active and current case, apart from seeking information.
Why on earth do you see fit criticise their professional and ethical stance on this while harping back to mistakes made in the embarrassment that was the Amaral fiasco mystifies me.