President Chegi defended this Thursday the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic and the calling of early elections, arguing that the government cannot remain in power and will require an urgent debate with the prime minister.
“We understand that the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic is the way to go at this time and that early elections are called so that the Portuguese can say whether they want to continue living in this swamp or want an alternative solution. “, Andre Ventura said at a press conference, given that “this is a government with no conditions to continue in office, there are ten resignations, two of them are ministers and key ministers in the political weight of the government.”
The Chega leader spoke to reporters at the party’s headquarters in Lisbon following the resignation of Infrastructure and Housing Minister Pedro Nuno Santos.
The President and the MP noted that this situation indicates “a very deep collapse of the government, with a constant loss of power and political prestige within the country and abroad”, “undermines the credibility of António Coste” and “calls political authority into question.” all ministries.
“The normal functioning of the institutions is at stake,” he defended, believing that the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “should give very good consideration” to holding new legislative elections and should listen to the parties about “the conditions that the executive branch should support the administration.” .
André Ventura indicated that the party would vote for a vote of no confidence, which the Liberal Initiative announced it would submit to the Assembly of the Republic, but believes that “in such a scenario, it is up to the President of the Republic to make the decision.”
“The president of the republic cannot defend himself in parliament in this case, because he knows that there is an absolute majority, and he knows that it is necessary to make a decision that people expect from him,” he stressed.
As for the prime minister, Ventura stated that “if António Costa has a bit of political dignity” he should resign.
President Chega also stated that it is not the election results that are important for his party, noting that “Chega is the third political force and will remain the third political force in the polls”, and the country’s perspective is capable of “change of power”.
“The law is not at its most organized moment, but everything is better than the government leading us into the abyss,” he defended.
At that press conference, Andre Ventura also indicated that, like the PSD, “Chega will require an urgent debate in Parliament next week in the presence of Prime Minister António Costa, so that he can personally explain why he himself, what happened and the political conditions, which, in his opinion, he should manage.
Leader Chegi pointed out that despite recent government resignations, “there are still questions to be answered” because “this case is not closed” and defended that Parliament should unite to demand “a full scrutiny “. to TAP accounts.
Pointing out that “Pedro Nuno Santos should give more detailed clarification”, Ventura believes that “in order for this dismissal to happen, Pedro Nuno Santos knew about the whole situation” and “when he asks TAP for clarification, he lies to the President of the Republic and lies country.”
Ventura also said that TAP’s executive president, Christine Urmier-Widener, “of all the people involved, is the one with the least conditions for us to continue.”
Infrastructure and Housing Minister Pedro Nuno Santos resigned on Wednesday evening to “take political responsibility” in a €500,000 TAP compensation case against a former finance minister.
It was the third government resignation in two days, after Alexandra Reis of the Treasury portfolio found herself at the center of a controversy over compensation, and Secretary of State for Infrastructure Hugo Santos Mendez followed Pedro Nuno Santos’ decision. .
The Liberal Initiative has already announced a vote of no confidence in the government in Parliament, where the PS has an absolute majority.
Finance Minister Fernando Medina fired Secretary of State for the Treasury on Tuesday, less than a month after Alexandra Reis took office and after four days of wrangling over a €500,000 settlement from Pedro Nuno Santos’ TAP.
Alexandra Reis was compensated for her early departure in February from her position as chief executive of the air carrier. In June, the government appointed her chairman of the Navegação Aérea de Portugal (NAV), and this month she was elected finance minister.
The decision to compensate Alexandre Reis, reported by Correio da Manhã, was criticized by all the opposition and was even called into question by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, when he said that it would be “fine” to do without the quantity.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.