Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa defended António Costa against the allegations of the former governor of Banco de Portugal, Carlos Costa, who says in the book “Governador” that the prime minister was trying to protect Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, who had a capital presence of banking institutions in Portugal, such as BPI and BIC.
“I’m just going to talk about the BPI process, which took place when I was President of the Republic. Before I started my mandate, I received the Prime Minister in Queluz’s palace, who told me that the ECB has a very clear position about the future of BPI, to unravel the statutes, which favored Isabel dos Santos, who told me that if the diploma was not approved by Cavaco Silva, who was at the end of his term, it would be up to me be left. I told him that if he didn’t take it, I would deliberate on it as soon as I took office. But Cavaco Silva didn’t want to comment on the matter, which I understand, as he was at the end of his term. The decision was unfavorable to Isabel dos Santos and I announced the diploma a month after I took office and I felt it was going to be one of the most complicated decisions of my term, and it did. That’s how it went t ot the end of the 1st term of office of José Eduardo dos Santos”started by explaining the president of the republic.
“Given the position of the ECB, Isabel dos Santos broke the agreement and left for Angola. We agreed what had to be done, and that was what the ECB ordered. Me, the Prime Minister, the government and the governor of the bank from Portugal agreed. This had a cost in the relationship with the Executive of Luanda”continued the head of state, guaranteeing that this would not happen at any time “of those involved never thought to stop applying the law unfavorable to Isabel dos Santos”🇧🇷
“In this bank or in other banks, it was not normal for the President of the Republic to accompany me or intervene while I intervened. Looking coolly at the events, it was a story that went well and sacrificed and accepted the interests of a private individual diplomatic interests”he remembered.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also spoke about the war in Ukraine and Tuesday’s explosion in Poland. “Whether it was a mistake or a misappropriation of the Ukrainian defense, there is still no certainty, but this only happens because there is a war that should not exist”he stressed.
Source: DN
