The Portuguese Communist Party, the Left Bloc, PAN and Liberal Initiative have criticized the review mechanism presented by the government this Thursday, which consists of a 34-question questionnaire and a statement of honour.
“This whole scenario is ridiculous. Is the Prime Minister going to ask questions and demand a pledge of honour? So he didn’t do it before? So the Prime Minister didn’t know that Miguel Alves was accused? Did this questionnaire influence his decision? The responsibility to bring people before the government belongs to the Prime Minister. All the cases that have happened have a responsible person, namely António Costa. This questionnaire is like Melhoral: it is neither good nor bad “said the deputy Pedro Filipe Soares.
Inês Sousa Real, leader of the PAN, has already said that the government lends itself “to be ridiculed”. “Are they going to ask if the person has embezzled money or corrupted someone? Things keep happening. It seems clear to us that this is not the answer the country needs. And investigation was essential to ensure procedural and investigative speed”he stressed.
Paula Santos, from the PCP, recalls that the “appointment of members of the government is a responsibility of the government and the prime minister”. “This announcement of the questionnaire does not detract from an assessment of the characteristics of who is being nominated. Regardless of the questions in this questionnaire, it is necessary to determine their commitment to serving the country and not the major economic groups”considered the communist delegate.
Also critical was the still leader of the Liberal Initiative, João Cotrim Figueiredo, who said that “the mountain gave birth to a mouse”. “It’s time for the Portuguese to realize that we can’t go on with this government. A week later, the mountain gave birth to a mouse. The prime minister came up with a first proposal, which was rejected. Then he came up with a second proposal. A questionnaire ” Can’t those 34 questions be done live? I am sure the Prime Minister remembered this in the middle of the debate. We are facing a staging and a communication movement.”shot.
Chega’s leader, André Ventura, classified the questionnaire as a “useless smoke screen” with no “legal force”. “This questionnaire presented at length at the Council of Ministers is an absolutely useless smoke screen. We do not know whether this questionnaire will be public or not, and in all likelihood, we do not know whether the questions and answers will be public knowledge”also in statements to journalists in the Assembly of the Republic.
Source: DN
