“I have had a principle for seven years. I do not comment on a case of justice and I will not make an exception,” replied António Costa, after being questioned by journalists about the investigation by the Public Prosecution Service (MP) into a preliminary lease for non-housing purposes, approved in 2020 by the City Council of Caminha, for the construction of the Transfrontier Exhibition Center.
When asked whether he maintains political confidence in Miguel Alves, the prime minister replied: “Certainly, otherwise I would not be a member of the government.”
Público reported in the October 26 edition that the municipality of Caminha had made a “dubious advance” of 300,000 euros for the project in question, authorized by the now deputy secretary of state to the prime minister, when he led that municipality in the district of Viana do Castle .
Speaking to Lusa on October 26, the current Mayor of Caminha, Rui Lages, rejected any “doubt or illegality” in the preliminary lease, guaranteeing that the construction of the Transfrontier Exhibition Center is “strategic” for the municipality “because it will lead to job creation and above all to create a synergy that is not there, because it has linked the construction of a Science and Technology Center with the CET”.
Público reported that the payment was made by the municipality in March 2021 to an unknown company and was associated with a businessman with an alleged forged resume, Ricardo Moutinho, but construction of the municipal pavilion has not yet started.
In its October 28 issue, the weekly Expresso reported that the company in question, Green Endogenous, SA, is part of an investment group “established on the spot.”
Source: DN
