Amid criticism, unanswered questions and after nearly five hours of meeting, only the PS approved the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) report to TAP. The doubt, at the start of Thursday’s meeting, was the position of the PCP (it was not known whether they would vote against or abstain), but as the hours passed, the doubts were allayed and the communists even voted against it.
And, by all indications, few political consequences will be drawn. Also because, as far as the incidents at the Ministry of Infrastructure on the night of April 26 are concerned, they are only said to have been “extremely serious” – and this wording was not even included in the draft version of the rapporteur’s documentAna Paula Bernardo, included at the suggestion of the PCP.
Regarding the departure of Alexandra Reis from the airline, it is stated on the proposal of the Bloco de Esquerda that there were “different versions, by different supporters, of the reasons and motives” which were at the origin of the exit. That is, there is no obvious conclusion about the motives.
A PCP recommendation was also approved for the government to ask Airbus for an investigation.
But, only the PS approved the idea that there was no interference in TAP, with the final report writing: “There are no materially relevant situations that indicate a practice of interference in the day-to-day management of the company by the supervisory bodies.” On this point the PCP abstained, all other parties opposed.
However, the socialists’ isolation was not only reflected in the final vote. During the debate, all opposition parties – without exception – repeatedly criticized the PS, the government and the final report.
The criticism already started in the first round. After Ana Paula Bernardo, deputy of the PS (and rapporteur) intervened – reiterating the “seriousness” of her work, stating that the amendments in the report made it “more complete” and rejected the criticism – it was Pedro Filipe Soares, of the left block, criticizing the document: “Does not summarize the committee’s work”; “Incomprehensible that the PS lends itself to this situation and that the deputy rapporteur presents a report that is fraudulent” at events at the Ministry of Infrastructure. He was followed by Bruno Dias, from the PCP, who stated that the document “has the main problem: the same option, which is the privatization of TAP”. “We have the anatomy of a crime here in light of what the privatization of TAP was,” he noted.
On the right, it was Chega’s turn to intervene, also leaving very harsh words about the document. “The report shames us, makes us blush. There’s a lot to say. There is much to clarify. (…) I do not believe that the deputy sees himself in this report. It would be very bad form and shameful for the honorable Member to review himself. It is not a CPI report. It is a PS report,” said Filipe Melo. But the PS immediately dismissed the criticism: the report “is not biased” and the opposition’s views “have more to do with beliefs than facts”. the opposition to call the meeting between the PS faction and the former CEO of TAP a “secret meeting.” Just because it was not recorded does not mean it was secret. It was a formal meeting.”
Already the PSD believed that the report “whitewashes” the behavior of João Galamba, Minister of Infrastructure, because “the steamroller of the majority erases information”. “It is unacceptable that the political quagmire and scabrous behavior are not included in the report,” deputy Paulo Moniz criticized.
The Liberal Initiative, in the words of Bernardo Blanco, refused – by justifying the negative vote and the fact that they had not put forward any proposals – that the Liberals are “useful idiots”. And, according to the deputy, the report is completely silent on David Neeleman’s written testimony, as well as on testimonials about possible political interference.
Meanwhile, the president of the republic yesterday said he will speak about TAP soon after hearing a week ago that the preliminary report was “like a rehearsal of a play”.
Source: DN
