Asked, in Vendas Novas (Évora), about statements by the Minister of Education, João Costa, who said that when the PSD government “cut 28,000 teachers out of the system”, Luís Montenegro found such statements “just ridiculous”.
“Seven years after the PS ruled the country, after the PS ruled for 20 of the last 27 years, it’s ridiculous to blame the PSD for leaving teachers out of the system, it’s just ridiculous. And, like our people say, the ridiculous murders,” he objected.
The ‘orange’ leader thought that “there must be some insolence”, but what is certain is that “for want of better, the PS always blames what comes from behind”.
Montenegro, for example, alluded to the case of the former health minister, Marta Temido, recalling that she said “that the problem of emergencies, of the shutdown that happened all over the country, came from the 1980s”.
“All that remains is for a PS ruler to come and blame Dr. António de Oliveira Salazar for every problem there is in what is the political responsibility of this government”mocked.
PSD speaks of “almost breathless atmosphere” with alleged incompatibilities in government
PSD chairman Luís Montenegro believed that successive cases of alleged violations of the incompatibilities law by members of the government had created “an almost unbreathable atmosphere”.
“It creates an almost unbreathable atmosphere”the Social Democratic leader replied to journalists when asked about yet another case of alleged incompatibilities in government involving the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
Speaking in Vendas Novas at the end of the “Sentir Portugal” program in the Évora district, Luís Montenegro again defended that “it is urgent” that the judicial authorities investigate “whether or not the law is being complied with”.
“It is not worth going beyond what the essence of this matter is. There is a law. The law is in force and we all need to make sure that it is followed.”wrinkled.
The PSD chairman was of the opinion that, “When more doubts appear every day” on incompatibilities of members of the socialist executive, “certain that the authority of the government is being questioned”.
Citing cases of “incoordination” and “disrespectful statements” by members of the government, Montenegro stressed that news of alleged incompatibilities “will increase” the difficulties for the country to “have an effective government”.
“The judicial authorities have to fulfill their duty to check whether the law has been complied with or not and that is what I hope will happen quickly and urgently”to also “reassure the country about the full range of action of a member of the government,” he added.
Science, Technology and Higher Education Minister Elvira Fortunato this Friday assured that she will “no longer have any interest in the business” of NTPE on March 18 this year, about two weeks before taking office.
“A quota transfer request was made on March 18, 2022, which resulted in Elvira Fortunato no longer having a stake in the company,” the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES) said in a statement.
At stake may be a “potential conflict of interest,” according to SIC, adding that “contrary to what the ministry says, there is no notice on the Portal of Justice that Elvira Fortunato’s activities are ceasing”.
As for the non-profit collaborative laboratory AlmaScience, dedicated to scientific research, Elvira Fortunato was administrator, representing the NOVA University of Lisbon, “functions she no longer held when she was appointed as a minister”.
The statement confirms that AlmaScience submitted an application for a research project to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) on March 11, 2022, the funding of which was announced at EUR 56,257 on July 27, 2022.
“The decision to submit these types of applications rests with the CoLab AlmaScience executive committee, and the board of directors has no involvement in that decision,” said Elvira Fortunato’s office.
According to him, the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education “has not had and could not have intervened in the approval of this funding, nor with any other application for funding from the FCT”.
In recent weeks, Ministers of Health, Manuel Pizarro, of Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, and of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, have been the subject of doubts about the possibility of having violated the incompatibility regime in force. to public officials.
The president of the republic has already asked parliament to review the legal regime regarding the incompatibilities and impediments of holders of political positions, if the assembly of the republic “deems such reflection relevant and necessary”.
Source: DN
