António Costa’s last cabinet meeting will take place this Thursday in the town hall of the Porto City Council, a city that the still Prime Minister called this Wednesday “capital of decentralization”, with an emphasis on mobility and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, both in terms of the future high-speed rail network and the current Lisbon International Airport.
In statements made during the last edition of the Government + Next initiative, in which he mobilized dozens of ministers and secretaries of state for various initiatives in the Porto district, Costa said that the current Council of Ministers will serve to approve preventive measures that will allow consolidation of the route of the high-speed line that will revolutionize the train connection between Lisbon, Porto, Braga and the Galician city of Vigo.
The definition of the route was highlighted by the Socialist ruler as an essential step so that the much-delayed Alta Velocidade can finally move forward in the next term. “As long as there is no opposition from the leader of the main opposition party and the future leader of the current party in government, in January we will have the technical conditions to launch the competition to develop this high-speed line, the final on which the new government will already decide,” said the Prime Minister.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister, on the eve of his resignation, said that the Council of Ministers will approve a resolution imposing on ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal the immediate implementation of works included in the set of obligations entered into in the concession contract . to the controlled company of the French da Vinci. This concerns necessary works at Terminal 1 of Lisbon International Airport, which has often been reported to be in poor condition, as well as the cessation of the military use of Figo Maduro, which should now serve as a parking platform for aircraft, thus the usability of the infrastructure is improved. .
António Costa said on Wednesday that, despite constitutional limitations, it is the duty of his government to “leave everything ready” for whoever succeeds him and to guarantee the country’s continuity in the implementation of community funds and day-to-day administration.
“Even with the constitutional restrictions the government will face from next Friday, the country must continue to function. It is necessary to ensure continuity,” said António Costa.
The Prime Minister guaranteed that this continuity “is indisputable” in matters such as the implementation plans for the Recovery and Resilience Plan, plans for programs such as Portugal 2030, but also in daily business operations.
“But it is also the duty of this government, even when it comes to matters over which it cannot decide, to leave everything prepared so that whoever succeeds us can do so in the shortest possible time,” he added. with Lusa
Source: DN
