The President of the Republic said this Thursday that he wants to see whether the conditions protecting national interests in the reprivatization of the TAR are included in the diploma that he will receive from the government, or whether they will be sent to the specifications.
“It’s one thing to be included in the law, to have the force of law, it’s more durable, stronger. It is another matter to be included in the set of administrative rules. Therefore, looking at all this, it means that it is impossible to separate one part from the others, I will consciously make a decision later,” Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said in response to questions from journalists in Oeiras, Lisbon district.
The head of state, speaking at the end of the initiative in the Taguspark hall, repeated that he wants to “see what the law says on the legal conditions for protecting the state’s position” regarding the TAR, emphasizing that what remains “in the law is longer-term and has a different force” whereas “by specification it has administrative force but not legal force.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza refused to comment on the reprivatization process. “I can’t say more because I don’t know the diploma. I’m just saying what I think is important in the thesis in order to have a global judgment about it. Let’s wait and see,” he said.
Regarding the diploma approved this Thursday by the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic began by saying that he hopes to obtain it quickly and that he will “consider it as a whole,” since “it will probably be the only legitimate diploma.” based on the choices that will be made.”
“In addition to what has already been stated – 51% [de capital a privatizar] at least from 5% for workers, but up to 100% – I will look at other realities,” he continued.
“There are several components: the cost of sale, the interest sold, there are payment terms, there are conditions for protecting public interests,” he listed.
The head of state emphasized that it is important to look at whether “the law contains guarantees, at least the most significant ones with regard to the protection of national interests.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza insisted that it is not the same thing to write these guarantees into law or to put them in specifications, noting that “for some reason there is a law, and therefore we will wait to see the law.”
The government announced this Thursday that it has approved a diploma defining the conditions for the privatization of TAR, which will have to be promulgated by the President of the Republic.
According to Finance Minister Fernando Medina, the government wants to sell at least 51% of TAP’s capital, “this is the minimum percentage.”
As for the specification, the minister expressed his intention to submit it to the Council of Ministers by the end of this year, at the latest at the beginning of next year.
A week ago, when asked if he had any objections to the possible full privatization of the TAR, allowed in parliament by the Prime Minister, the head of state replied: “If it is economically, financially, from the Portuguese point of view, the best solution is the best solution.”
“They will say: but the state must have intervention tools. Privatization is possible with intervention tools. Therefore, it depends on the conditions of privatization,” added Marcelo Rebelo de Souza on the sidelines in New York. 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to the President of the Republic, “every state tries to guarantee minimum conditions for monitoring and control,” but asked, “Is this compatible with full privatization? This may or may not be the case. Let’s see what the conditions are.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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