Fernando Medina revealed this Thursday that he had asked the Attorney General’s Office to be heard in the trial that led to searches by the judicial police in the Lisbon City Council for “suspicions of corruption, economic participation in business and counterfeiting” in an agreement for “provision of services signed in 2015” by the then chairman of the municipality and current finance minister, who suspected PS funding.
“I am not aware of any ongoing investigation and I have never been called upon to provide any clarification on any process that is being investigated. It needs to be clarified. I am the one most interested in being heard. Until so far it has never been heard and I am not aware of any trial I only believe what I hear in the media That is what I can do as a Democrat I have nothing to do but put myself at the disposal of the Prosecution.”the minister told journalists at the Ministry of Finance.
“The reasons that led to the hiring of Joaquim Morão are expressed in the message I signed in 2015, at a time when the Lisbon City Council was carrying out a lot of works – some even accused me of working too much -, as on Av ., Cais do Sodré, Saldanha, Campo das Cebolas, Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo… we planned to form a work surveillance team, which played its role”he explained, making sure that he only knows about the case through the media and therefore there will be no political repercussions. “This situation does not weaken me at all”creased.
Fernando Medina stressed that Joaquim Morão was hired through a direct contract (and not through a tender) and “did a good job in the city of Lisbon”. “The Chamber knew who they hired. Only a very professional team could ensure that the works proceeded with as little disruption as possible. Several services of the Chamber were involved in these works. They even accused the Chamber of excessive work”he assured, assuring that the choice had nothing to do with party criteria, but rather with the work Morão showed in the Castelo Branco district.
“I have been in government service for more than two decades and made tens of thousands of decisions, always with transparency”he stressed, claiming to have a “clear conscience”.
In a statement released before Medina spoke to journalists, the PS clarified “that it received no financial or material support from companies” and that “under the law, donations are only accepted from duly identified individuals”.
The PS then refers that “the donations made are recorded and identified in the party’s official accounts, presented to the entity for billing and political funding”.
“The PS categorically rejects the allegations of funding outside the strict legal framework,” it added.
Speaking to TVI this Wednesday, Fernando Medina said he was not aware of any investigation, adding only that “the Lisbon City Council’s recruitment procedures were instructed by the competent services for recruitment, in accordance with the applicable lines”.
The case that sparked searches at the Urban Planning Department of the Lisbon Chamber on Tuesday “has no composite defendants” and is subject to judicial secrecy, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) told Lusa on Thursday.
This Thursday morning, the capital’s current mayor, the Social Democrat Carlos Moedas, spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new office for a company in Lisbon, saying that the searches “refer to previous mandates” , and assured that the municipality “will of course cooperate with the judiciary”.
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Source: DN
