While promising conclusions “it hurts who hurts”, the PS rejects the idea of a second extension – for a further three months – of the functioning of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to TAP.
The vote on the final report is scheduled for July 13, and this Friday, Chega proposed that the commission run for another three months. “The clarifications obtained so far are not considered sufficient to safely contribute to the resolution of disagreements, if not even contradictions which in many cases are passed on to the delegates present,” reads André Ventura’s application. And Chega also wanted the CPI to hear again the Minister of Infrastructure, João Galamba, and his Chief of Staff, Eugénia Correia, taking into account the “multiple, obvious and unavoidable contradictions related to the events allegedly verified in the Ministry of Infrastructure and considers, as a result, the performance of the SIS in the recovery of the work computer” of the deputy who fired Galamba on April 26, Frederico Pinheiro.
“There’s something we feel, we’ve been feeling it for a while. The Portuguese are asking us for conclusions and here I would use the prime minister’s words no matter who it hurts.”
Most PS prepare to fail everything. Asked about Chega’s request, the socialists’ coordinator in the committee, Bruno Aragão, replied that “at the moment nothing indicates the need to extend the work”, recalling that “there was a consensus on the calendar”, which is being fulfilled and that “every effort has been made by all parties to ensure that the hearings take place as planned”. The socialist also said that the party’s request to rehear João Galamba and his chief of staff will be rejected outright. “There is something we feel, we have been feeling it for a while. The Portuguese are asking us for conclusions and here I would use the Prime Minister’s words, no matter who it hurts,” he stressed.
“Make them transparent, present them, have the debate that needs to be had with the serenity that needs to be had. Finish the process.”
According to Bruno Aragão, “after 43 hearings, more than two months of listening to people, reading documents, trying to put together the different parts of this process”, being asked to “conclude what you need to conclude”. “Make them transparent, present them, have the debate about them that should be done with the serenity that should be done. Close the process,” he defended.
Given that “the conclusions are drawn at the end”, for the socialist this week was “very enlightening, especially in two moments where there was some doubt”. “For 2015, we now have a clear picture of what were two foundational pieces to that reprivatization that took place in the last month of that process: the letters of consolation that allow the state to guarantee the company’s debt and that lead to the Court’s assertion that, despite the privatization of 61%, the state resembles a single shareholder,” he said.
For the PS, another fundamental piece is the “opinion that supports the Airbus funds that were a fundamental piece to take advantage of TAP”. “One piece that was missing was how a series of decisions were made leading to the state’s option to allocate 3.2 billion euros to a strategic company for Portugal,” he said.
Next Tuesday, the CPI will hear the Prime Minister’s Deputy Secretary of State, António Mendonça Mendonça Mendes.
Source: DN
