The President of the Republic stated on Thursday that he wants to see whether the conditions securing the national interest in the reprivatization of TAP are included in the diploma he will receive from the government, or whether they are sent to the specifications.
“It’s one thing to be included in the law, to have the force of the law, it’s more lasting, it’s stronger. Another thing is to be included in a set of administrative rules. If we look at all this, it means that it is not possible to separate one part from the other, I will consciously make that decision later”declared Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in response to questions from journalists, in Oeiras, in the Lisbon district.
The head of state, speaking at the end of an initiative in the Tagus Park auditorium, reiterated that he wants “look at what the law says about legal conditions to secure the position of the state” regarding TAP, emphasizing that what remains “remains in law, is more durable and has a different force”, while “the specifications have administrative force, but no legal force”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declined to comment further on this reprivatization process: “I can’t say more, because I don’t know the diploma. I’m only saying what seems important to me in the diploma in order to have an overall opinion about it. Let’s wait and see.”
Regarding the diploma approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, the President of the Republic began by saying that he hopes to receive it soon and that he will “look at it as a whole”, because “it will probably be the only legal degree based on the choice that will be made”.
“In addition to what has already been announced – 51% [de capital a privatizar] at least, with 5% for employees, but up to 100% – I will also look at other realities”he continued.
“There are several components: the value of the sale, the percentage sold, there are payment conditions, there are conditions to safeguard the public interest”he mentioned.
The head of state emphasized the importance of seeing “If the guarantees, at least the essential ones with regard to safeguarding the national interest, are contained in the law”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized that it is not the same to enshrine these guarantees in law or direct them according to specifications, noting: “For some reason there is a law and that is why we will wait for the law”.
The government announced on Thursday that it has approved the diploma containing the conditions for the privatization of TAP, which will have to be promulgated by the President of the Republic.
According to Finance Minister Fernando Medina, the government wants to sell at least 51% of TAP’s capital, “this is the minimum percentage”.
As for the specifications, the minister has expressed his intention to submit them to the Council of Ministers at the end of this year, or at the latest early next year.
When asked a week ago whether he had any objection to a possible total privatization of TAP, which was admitted in parliament by the Prime Minister, the head of state replied: “If it is economically, financially and from a Portuguese point of view, the best solution is the best solution.”
“You could say: but the state must have intervention instruments. It is possible to privatize with intervention instruments. Therefore, it depends on the conditions for privatization.”added Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in New York, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the President of the Republic “each state shall ensure that minimum monitoring and control conditions are guaranteed”but asked: “Is this compatible with full privatization? It may or may not be so. We’ll see what the conditions are.”
Source: DN
