Former minister Pedro Nuno Santos is being heard this Thursday before the TAP panel of inquiry on the disputed compensation for Alexandra Reis that caused her to leave the government.
Pedro Nuno Santos begins his speech by saying that he has been waiting for an audition for a long time. “This is the most difficult audition, a lot has been said in recent months. Much has happened beyond what is stated in the communiqué,” he notes, recalling that since his departure he has released two texts and has not spoken again.
The resignation “was not requested by anyone”
Former minister Pedro Nuno Santos explains that his resignation “was not demanded by anyone”, but it was clear to his team that he could not “pull in the government” when the Alexandra Reis compensation dispute flared up.
In his initial speech to the TAP Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, the former Minister of Infrastructure and Housing recalled that his resignation “was submitted four days after it became known,” referring to the controversy surrounding the compensation of 500 thousand euros to the former TAP administrator Alexandra Reis.
“We were in a Christmas period that took on a huge significance, and it was clear to me and my team that we couldn’t plod along in government, on our own and with government,” he said, suggesting it was “a very hard decision for those who have been involved in politics for many years, and for those who have been in government for many years.
“TAR was the most difficult, most complex and most carefully studied dossier that we had in our hands. Alexandra Reis compensation is less than 1% of what was done, but this is what made me leave, ”he justifies.
“The value is high in any country, especially in Portugal”
The former infrastructure minister explained that he was faced with an initial offer of compensation, which he found to be high. He made this estimate and was asked again with a different value, which he also considered high. “When they told me that it was impossible to download more, I gave the go-ahead,” he emphasizes.
Pedro Nuno Santos stressed that the €500,000 attributed cost is “high for any country, especially Portugal, but in line with TAP salaries.”
“It is not true that I ever said that I knew nothing, and it is not true that I knew everything. Today we look at these issues with a clarity and clarity that was not there then. start. I won’t lie, because a lie seems more believable,” he said.
“I had no memory”
The former minister realized what a busy schedule he had when he had an infrastructure portfolio. “I had a lot of things on hand because of my position. I had no memory,” he claimed.
Seeing the compensation approval message, Pedro Nuno Santos did not immediately remember its content. “QWhen I saw the message, I didn’t remember it, but I had physical support who explained what happened. How often does it happen that they don’t remember “the content of the email?” he said.
“I gave myself body and soul to the TAR cause”
Pedro Nuno Santos also said that TAP is under strong political and media pressure despite the airline’s profit and growth.
“I gave myself body and soul to the TAP dossier. I gave my body to the bullets. But I knew that the best way to contribute was not to interfere with management.”
“Fortunately, we managed to achieve results, unfortunately, everything went wrong, and the process of paying compensation to Alexandra Reis went wrong,” he concluded.
Pedro Nuno Santos authorized the departure of engineer Alexandra Reis after meeting with the former CEO.
In the first round of questions, the MP from the Liberal Initiative confronts Pedro Nuno Santos about the veracity of the facts presented in the communiqué he issued after the controversy. The former Minister of Infrastructure emphasizes that the text does not lie.
“I just gave permission. What would make me act differently? Alexandra Reis, an engineer, is leaving TAP because the CEO wanted to make changes to the executive committee, and there was no place,” he says.
‘I’m sorry’ about what happened to Alexandra Reis
Former minister Pedro Nuno Santos deplored what happened to Alexandra Reis, seeing her as “very competent, intelligent and hardworking” and hoping that she would quickly recover from the disagreement over compensation as it would be of benefit to anyone who wanted to work with her.
Former Minister of Infrastructure and Housing answers questions from Illinois Deputy Bernardo Blanco at the TAP Inquiry Committee about an “email” sent by Alexandra Reis listing vacancies before leaving with a €500,000 compensation and to which Pedro Nuno Santos replied not to respond.
“Engineer Alexandra Reis was a very competent TAP employee, very competent, intelligent, hardworking, I am very sorry about what happened to her and I hope she can quickly deal with this, because it will be useful to everyone who wants to work with her,” said the former minister, who resigned after a disputed compensation.
Author: morning Post This Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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