Mariana Vieira da Silva, Minister for the Presidency, had said that there was an opinion and so did Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. They spoke of an opinion that would legally support the government’s decision to exonerate TAP’s CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener, and the company’s chairman, Manuel Beja, for cause. And they spoke in the sense of justifying that it was not in the interest of the State to send this document to TAP’s Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry (CPI).
And lo and behold, surprise of surprises, on Thursday a third minister, Fernando Medina, of Finance, announces that after all “there is no opinion, the idea that was created that there would be an opinion … there is no additional opinion to what is the basis of the ground for dismissal, which is more than sufficient for those who read it, in relation to the opinion of the General Inspectorate of Finance”. The “foundation” is the joint consultation of Parpública (a public company that manages state shareholdings) and the Directorate General of Finance and Finance that fired Christine Ourmières-Widener and Manuel Beja.
The way in which Medina challenged Ana Catarina Mendes and Mariana Vieira da Silva both left clearly in a bad mood and caused bewilderment on the PS bench. Bruno Aragão, coordinator of the socialist deputies at the CPI, told TSF: “It is the government that has to clarify this particular case. The parliamentary group and the committee of inquiry are not leading the government.”
Heard in Braga, the president of the republic believed that it would be “bad news” if the assembly of the republic had to be dissolved (that is, call for early elections). “If you have to, let it be as late as possible,” he said, speaking of the need for stability so as not to jeopardize the implementation of PRR funds. Anyway, he repeated, it would be “bad news” – just “sometimes there has to be bad news”.
But this episode again put the Prime Minister under fire.
While Luís Montenegro did not file a censure motion – which Chega has already announced it will file in September – Luís Montenegro accused António Costa of “political cowardice” and of “losing authority” by not commenting further on the matter. “Either you’re ashamed of what’s going on – and if that’s the case, it’s better to admit it than put it off for much longer – or you’re committed and need to take responsibility, you can’t do like you don’t.” Nothing is happening on your side in your government.”
Chega, IL, BE, PCP, PAN and Livre also criticized the government’s contradictions.
Ventura again challenged the prime minister to explain the country about this matter, as if he maintains confidence in the finance ministers, parliamentary affairs ministers and the presidency, he “supports lies, foolishness and amateurism”.
The leader of the IL, Rui Rocha, said that “there is a complete lack of control in what is the government of the Portuguese Republic at the moment”.
For Mariana Mortágua, from BE, this is “another moment of internal war by the PS, which did not defend the interests of the country”.
PCP parliamentary leader Paula Santos also believed that the government owes “a thorough clarification to the country”, as did deputies Rui Tavares (Livre) and Inês Sousa Real (PAN).
Source: DN
