IL leader accuses Costa of being ‘on the run’ for 50 days

On Monday, the IL president accused the prime minister of being “on the run from the Portuguese for more than 50 days”, asking him to “put a hand on his conscience” and clarify the truth about SIS activities at the Ministry of Infrastructures. .

Speaking to reporters at a liberal fair in Lisbon, Rui Rocha stressed that during the commission of inquiry into TAP “many different versions, many false facts, many evidence of poor management” by public companies, and in particular by TAP. .

The IL leader stressed that “secret meetings were discovered, requests for information from ministries, which were later answered by the secretary of state,” as well as a “lack of credible leads” from the rulers.

“And above all, we have found so far the Prime Minister, who has been on the run from the Portuguese for more than 50 days, because, in fact, we did not need any commission of inquiry, nor debates, nor questions: it was as simple as how the prime minister should come and tell the Portuguese what really happened,” he said.

For IL leader António Costa, “there is still time to do it” and “it could spare the Portuguese from continuing the sad spectacle, the constant degradation of institutions, exposing even his government’s ministers with contradictory stories and frivolous moments.”

“The Prime Minister needs to put an end to this, and therefore more than I expect from every speech of the people to be heard. [esta semana na comissão de inquérito]“I hope that the prime minister can put a hand on his conscience and come right away to tell the Portuguese the truth about all these facts,” he said.

In these statements to journalists, Rui Rocha was asked about the news released this morning by Correio da Manhã, according to which the government has, since December 2015, a “pen” with opinions on Airbus funds worth about $226.9 million (€202.2 million according to exchange rate at the time) that David Neeleman used to capitalize TAP.

For Rui Rocha, the news “is yet another indication that there is a huge mess surrounding everything TAP” and “another manifestation of completely amateurish management, shamelessly referring to what PS has done with a company that has now gone public.”

“Of course, the Portuguese gave the TAR 3.2 billion euros not for this. This money is badly needed: 3.2 billion is enough to build 30 hospitals in the West, and the Portuguese are deprived of better health, better education, so that later we can watch this sad spectacle,” he defended.

Asked about his expectations regarding the position of other parties regarding the IL proposal to establish a commission of inquiry into the activities of the SIS, which will be discussed in Parliament this Wednesday, Rui Rocha replied that his party has contributed.

“We are doing our part, it is important that now each of the other parties do theirs: that the PS has a moment when she said: “We must allow the discovery of the truth”, contrary to what she was doing, and the SDP also takes over their duties “, – he said.

Rui Rocha added that his party waits for no one, stressing that “the rest must do their part”, warning that “the Portuguese will make a political judgment on the role of everyone in these matters”.

Regarding the liberal fair organized annually by IL, Rui Rocha said that his party “wants to establish hope for the future, confidence”, stressing that it is possible that there is another country that is growing” where the Portuguese have “more opportunity”.

“The party wants, and the country needs a new life, to believe, to trust. The Portuguese have no reason to accept the version of the facts of those who tell them that this cannot change, that this cannot be better,” he said. said.