Former Economy Minister António Pires de Lima guaranteed this Tuesday that it was false and insulting to have authorized or been condescending to purchase aircraft for TAP above the fair market price.
The former economy minister between 2013 and 2015, during the government of Pedro Passos Coelho, was speaking at a parliamentary hearing in the Committee on Economy, Public Works, Planning and Housing under a PS request when he denied any responsibility for the purchase of aircraft damaged by the airline.
“It is completely false, baseless and insulting that the government, myself or Secretary of State Sérgio Monteiro, have authorized or been condescending to purchase aircraft above the fair market price.”he claimed.
In response to what he described as a “friendly” PS invitation to explain “the alleged scam or crime involving the purchase of 53 Airbus A320 and 330 Neo aircraft above market price”, António Pires de Lima was convinced that this did not happen. .
“The steps taken by the government, the decisions taken by the government were always based on assumptions, which were guaranteed to us in writing in documentation signed, among others, by Mr. Humberto Pedrosa. [ex-acionistas]that the purchase of those aircraft was not only suitable for the implementation of TAP’s new strategic plan, but that they would be purchased at a discount of 4 to 5%,” he justified.
The former ruler underlined that this “discount” means 233 million euros less compared to the fair market price.
“I also consider it highly unlikely that we were misled and that there was a blow to TAP and that the planes arrived above market price”he said.
Pires de Lima also recalled that, in addition to nine assessments – three per model – conducted by “credible entities”, the purchase of new aircraft was approved by TAP’s board of directors and endorsed by the company’s board of trustees.
Source: DN
