The PSD president said on Thursday it was “quite normal” for the president of the republic to ask the prime minister for an explanation about Costa’s deputy foreign minister, who is under investigation over a decision taken when he was mayor in Caminha.
“If the President of the Republic is going to take this step, I will of course sign up. If you ask me if I think it’s normal, I think it’s quite normal. It’s the job of the President of the Republic to define the conditions under which the members of the government are exercising their functions,” he said. Luis Montenegro.
The Expresso newspaper said today that the President of the Republic wants to take advantage of the weekly meeting with the Prime Minister, scheduled for 6 p.m., to question António Costa about the controversy surrounding the contract for the construction of the multi-purpose pavilion that will house the Deputy Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, Miguel Alves, celebrated in 2020 while serving as mayor of Caminha, who is under investigation by the prosecution.
Speaking to journalists at the West Sea shipyards, in Viana do Castelo, on the last day of the “Sentir Portugal” initiative in that district, Luís Montenegro recalled that “despite the nominations of the Prime Minister, who is ultimately responsible for appointing and removing members of the government, is the President of the Republic”.
Miguel Alves’ statements were “insufficient,” says PSD leader
Montenegro said the PSD has been asking for an explanation for a long time, confirming that a request for Miguel Alves’ hearing in parliament was submitted to the Assembly of the Republic on Monday.
“I think the explanations, the only ones he has given so far, have been insufficient, they were mostly tainted with a spirit of victimhood that does not help to clarify,” Montenegro said.
Asked about the controversy surrounding minister Mariana Vieira da Silva’s adviser, Montenegro said he did not have “much knowledge about the matter” other than what was made public through the press.
“It seems a bit strange, but I don’t know the situation in detail. But it seems a bit strange that a recent graduate, from a public office point of view, is driving to a top position with an experience that is, at least apparently insufficient,” he said.
The PSD leader refused to “make value judgments in detail about situations of which he is unaware”.
“I am not immune to the news, but I will have to understand it. Also in this respect, I think that parliament will not fail to examine this respective remuneration and organic position within the structure of government”.
The Prime Minister’s Deputy Secretary of State, Miguel Alves, is under investigation by the Public Prosecution Service for a promissory note contract he signed when he was mayor of Caminha.
It concerns the construction of a cross-border exhibition center in Caminha, in the district of Viana do Castelo, a work that has not yet begun after the promise contract between the promoter and the municipality was signed in 2020.
Público reported in its October 26 edition that the municipality of Caminha had made a “doubtful advance” of €300,000 for the project in question, approved by the Prime Minister’s now deputy secretary of state when he headed that municipality.
In parliament, PSD and Chega have already submitted requests for an urgent hearing of the ruler.
On October 31, the Prime Minister said in statements to journalists that he maintained political confidence in Miguel Alves.
In an interview with Jornal de Notícias and TSF, released on Sunday, Miguel Alves said he was initially silent because he had addressed the initial statements to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and was equally sure of the legality of the process .
Source: DN
