On the day João Galamba guaranteed that he has “all the conditions” to stay in government, the opposition turned to António Costa demanding that the Prime Minister come and explain to the country about the case involving the Minister of Infrastructure. The President of the Republic is preparing to do the same, who declined to comment yesterday on the matter of the ex-minister’s resignation, stating that the first person you will talk to about the matter is the prime minister – who remained silent until the closing time of this edition.
The fragments of yet another case backed by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) into the management of TAP are already at the gates of São Bento, with the revelation that the SIS – the information service – was called to check the computer recover that Frederico Pinheiro, the ex-deputy who was acquitted last Wednesday for “conduct incompatible with the duties and responsibilities” of the position, has taken over from the ministry. Yesterday, at a press conference, João Galamba confirmed contact with the information services, justifying that the computer had a “broad collection of classified documents”.
According to the infrastructure minister, the alleged theft of the computer was communicated to the SIS and the PJ, which are “the entities dealing with data protection and cybersecurity”, after João Galamba himself consulted with other members of the government. “I called the Prime Minister, who did not answer, I think he was driving. I called the Prime Minister’s Deputy Secretary of State, to whom I reported this fact. [o alegado furto do computador] and that I told me to talk to the Attorney General, which I did, and they told me to report these facts to those two entities [SIS e PJ]said Galamba, who declined to comment on what happened next – “The competent authorities have done what they thought they had to do. My chief of staff only reported the theft of state equipment containing confidential information”.
João Galamba denied Frederico Pinheiro’s version that he was trying to hide information from the CPI about the meetings that took place in January with TAP’s CEO, on the eve of Christine Ourmières-Widener going to parliament to explain for the first time about the departure of the management of airline Alexandra Reis. the Ministry “I never wanted to hide notes from the CPI,” the minister assured, speaking of “crystalline facts” that “demonstrate the efforts of all team members, repeated insistence that everything be collected”.
In yesterday’s report, João Galamba confirmed that he met with Christine Ourmières-Widener on January 16 – a meeting that had only been made public last Friday, when it was revealed in Frederico Pinheiro’s communiqué. Galamba admitted that it was he who informed TAP’s CEO that a preliminary meeting for the audition would be held the next day, in which Frederico Pinheiro and Socialist deputy Carlos Pereira (later PS coordinator at the CPI, who has since left precisely because of this controversial meeting) would be present. “I told him ‘look, I have a request from the parliamentary group’ (…) I don’t know, if you want to participate, you can participate,” Galamba reports. Christine Ourmières-Widener did not confirm her presence at the time, but contacted Frederico Pinheiro in the afternoon of the same day. At this point, Galamba denies there are any contradictions to the statement he made in early April, then said he was made aware of the TAP CEO’s interest in participating in the meeting – “I was in fact [informado], because I have a message from doctor Frederico Pinheiro saying, “João, the CEO wants to join the meeting, can you?” and I answer “can”.
If the two versions differ as to what happened at the January 17 meeting – Frederico Pinheiro says the questions and answers to be given at the hearing were combined, Galamba rejects this scenario – then it matters what happened at the beginning of April that the two versions are in complete contradiction. Galamba says there was a cabinet meeting on April 5 in which all elements about the meeting were questioned. “No [dos presentes] indicated that there were no documentary elements, nor that there was a combination of questions and answers [na reunião com a CEO da TAP]said the minister, emphasizing that there are four witnesses to that meeting. Galamba says that it was only on April 24 that the former deputy reported that he had notes from that meeting and that he had been asked to provide them, making it ministry was forced to ask the CPI to postpone the deadline for delivery, yet, he claimed, the then deputy did not respond to the request until April 26. The trial would end with what he described as “barbaric” aggression against members of the his cabinet by Frederico Pinheiro, when he tried to retrieve the computer assigned to him – in the version of the former deputy to collect the notes of the meeting, which he guarantees to inform João Galamba in a timely manner.
Statements do not convince the opposition
Galamba’s explanation did not convince the opposition, with IL, BE and PAN demanding that the prime minister himself provide an explanation. Rui Rocha pointed out the “huge silence” of António Costa, accusing the prime minister of “political cowardice”. Catarina Martins, leader of the BE, described the Prime Minister’s silence as “inexplicable”, partly in view of the fact that João Galamba “has very few conditions to continue in government”. PCP leader Paulo Raimundo said someone is lying in this case and that Costa is waiting for May to speak – but “when May comes, someone will have to explain themselves”. Even before the press conference in Galamba, the PSD said, through the parliamentary leader, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento demanded “urgent clarification” from the prime minister about the “very serious scandals” involving the Executive.
César proposes to renovate Costa
With yet another case haunting the government, the PS already admits the path may be via a reshuffle of the executive branch. The warning comes from above. “I think it is important that the prime minister keeps a close eye on whether there is a need for some refreshment, minister by minister”said Carlos César, president of the party, in an interview with the program yesterday Public interestFrom the newspaper Public.
A warning coming from the top of the party, from the hard core of António Costa, and reinforced by César: “The Prime Minister must be attentive to all signs that could change this environment, which for some reasons is not very positive for the PS ” .
Source: DN
