The Portuguese political world was still processing an April 25 with Lula da Silva in parliament, vociferous protests from Chega and words from Santos Silva that he said should not have been included, when on Wednesday April 28 the controversies surrounding the parliamentary Commission of Investigation (CPI) into TAP took on a new dimension when it became known that João Galamba had dismissed his deputy two days earlier “for conduct incompatible with the duties and responsibilities inherent in his functions in a ministerial office”.
Frederico Pinheiro accused the Minister of Infrastructure of wanting to omit information to the CPI about the “preliminary meeting” with the former CEO of TAP, something Galamba “categorically” denied. It was also made public that Pinheiro’s departure from the ministry had not been peaceful and had become a police matter.
Parties and commentators began to call for the departure of the minister, who initially guaranteed that he had “all the conditions” to remain in government, still not thinking that he was about to become the protagonist of the first major crisis between São Bento and Belém. , when António Costa, and to the dismay that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa did not hide, refused the resignation that Galamba had meanwhile asked for, because “the noise exceeds the facts”.
The president kept the government in office and the belief that Galamba should have left, promising to be even more vigilant. The prime minister boiled water by saying that this divergence was “an exception” that does not deserve to be dramatized. Only the future will tell if there are reasons for drama and if these crises become the new normal.
26 April
Sheriff’s deputy acquitted and alleged violence at Ministry of Infrastructure
João Galamba arrived in Lisbon from Singapore and called Frederico Pinheiro to fire him. Then the police case began. The acquitted deputy went to the office to get his laptop, but four of Galamba’s associates wouldn’t let him take it. A tense situation arose, reportedly with aggression, and Pinheiro attempted to leave with his laptop, smashing a window by throwing his bicycle at him. The laptop was eventually rescued by SIS, who had been alerted by Galamba. At the center of the resignation are notes Pinheiro made of the January 17 “secret meeting” — where TAP CEO Frederico Pinheiro and a PS deputy at the CPI, Carlos Pereira — and another, the day before, came together. including Galamba and the CEO of TAP. The resignation was not known until the 28th, when a ministry source confirmed it to Lusa, explaining that the behavior was “not in line with the duties and responsibilities” of an assistant minister.
April 28
João Galamba and Frederico Pinheiro exchange allegations through communiqués
The news of the deputy infrastructure minister’s resignation was entitled to reaction from all political sides, with PSD, Chega and BE defending the resignation of João Galamba and the former two asking to hear Frederico Pinheiro. IL stressed that the former deputy is a “scapegoat” and defended the minister’s hearing. The PCP, on the other hand, was baffled by the development of the TAP survey.
At the same time, Frederico Pinheiro and João Galamba exchanged public accusations through communiqués. The first from Frederico Pinheiro, in which the former deputy accused the infrastructure minister of wanting to omit information to the CPI to TAP about the “preliminary meeting” with the company’s former CEO, allegations that João Galamba “categorically” denied through a sent note to the media. It was also made public that Pinheiro’s departure from the ministry had not been peaceful, involving a stolen laptop and alleged assaults.
April 29
Galamba guarantees to have “all the prerequisites” to be in government
Faced with a chorus of requests for resignation from parties and commentators, as well as requests for explanations from António Costa, João Galamba gave a press conference guaranteeing he had “all the conditions” to remain in government. “The facts show that these are not contradictory versions. […] The facts are clear, I would say crystalline, showing that I have saturated the efforts of all elements of my team by the repeated insistence to collect everything,” he added, announcing his version of what happened with the former CEO of TAP and the delivery of documents to the CPI Regarding the incidents involving Frederico Pinheiro, he stated that he reported the theft of the computer to the Prime Minister’s Assistant Secretary of State and to the Minister of Justice after he was told that he also report this to the SIS and to the PJ.
30th of April
Caesar speaks of refreshment; Montenegro declares end of government
The PS president, Carlos César, made it clear that the idea of rebuilding also has supporters among the socialists, when he defends that the prime minister should assess whether or not there is a need for “some refreshment” in the government, given that that “greater rigor” is needed and discipline” to prevent cases like the one with TAP. A suggestion that did not go unnoticed by several party leaders, such as Catarina Martins (BE) or Luís Montenegro (PSD). “This government is in a way over . And it’s not me saying it. It is the chairman of the Socialist Party who says it,” said the PSD chairman. “This government failed and ended from the point of view of its room for maneuver to motivate and mobilize Portuguese society,” Montenegro stressed.
May 1
António Costa breaks the silence and defends João Galamba
While waiting for a response from António Costa, who arrived only at night, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that “very sensitive matters of the state are handled discreetly” and therefore it was not for him to say when he would speak to the Prime Minister minister on the resignation by Frederico Pinheiro. This, in turn, showed “full availability” to go to TAP’s CPI. António Costa, speaking for the first time on this subject, classified the recent events involving the Minister of Infrastructure as unacceptable, but defended that João Galamba acted properly.
May 2
Refusal to resign confirms crisis between São Bento and Belém
António Costa received Galamba, met his “hard core” and went to Belém. It was after 8pm when Galamba announced his resignation, but less than an hour later, Costa said the Infrastructure Minister’s request was something he could not accept “in good conscience”. While the prime minister was still speaking, Marcelo already expressed his displeasure with the decision, through a statement underlining that he “disagrees with Costa’s position”.
3rd of May
Hearings approved for Galamba and SIS and SIRP officials
Costa started the day by saying he wasn’t afraid to get a call from Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who in turn ended the day with a request for calm. On that day, the CPI also approved the TAP for the “immediate hearing” of João Galamba and the parliament to approve the hearing of the leaders of the SIRP and SIS. The SIRP oversight board said it concluded that the SIS had not taken any illegal action to recover the laptop belonging to former assistant minister João Galamba.
4th of May
The president of the republic detains the government and promises to intervene more
It was at 8 p.m. that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, after his weekly meeting with the Prime Minister, revealed to the country what was on his mind. He claimed that João Galamba should have left and that his maintenance as minister is at the expense of not only the authority of the government but also of the state. And he regretted that in this case it was not possible to “hit needles” with António Costa, qualifying the disagreement between the two as a “fundamental difference”. Yet he held executive power. “The Portuguese are refraining from these surprises,” said the president, stating that he will be “more attentive and intervening” regarding the responsibility of those in command.
5th of May
Costa de-dramatizes differences with Marcelo and has Galamba warned
The prime minister guaranteed that the disagreement with the president of the republic about keeping João Galamba in the government was an “exception”, without drama. On the future of relations with Belém, António Costa stated that “there is total convergence” with the head of state. There was still time for a warning: while denying that the maintenance of the infrastructure minister is a political problem for the government, he said Galamba’s future depends on the results he achieves in the exercise of his functions.
But the situation has not been resolved, because within the PS, the Socialist President, Carlos César, spoke again about the need for the party to be attentive to the government’s actions, to “make policies or politicians” if necessary. change and improve. “.
Source: DN
