This Thursday, the PSD requested an urgent debate with Prime Minister António Costa at next Wednesday’s plenary session on the topic “The political situation and the crisis in the government” following the resignation of Pedro Nuno Santos.
“The SDP Parliamentary Group, in accordance with Article 72 of the Standing Orders of the Assembly of the Republic, asks Your Excellency to schedule an emergency debate in the presence of the Prime Minister on the topic “Political Situation and Crisis in the Government”, for the plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic on January 4, 2023 (Wednesday),” reads in a statement filed by the PSD and addressed to the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Augusto Santos Silva.
The request came after this morning, PSD Vice President Paulo Rangel demanded that António Costa “give a full explanation” in the Assembly of the Republic “as early as next week”, given that the country is experiencing an “epidemic of political crises”. The government is socialist with 11 layoffs in seven to nine months.
According to Paulo Rangel, “the prime minister cannot hide” and “should give explanations to the country” in parliament.
“Doctor Antonio Costa, there is no time to hide. No time to answer (…). We will never get used to this aimless navigation in plain sight. We will never get used to this policy of impoverishment,” said the SDP Vice President.
According to article 72 of the Standing Orders of the Assembly of the Republic, “an emergency debate may be held every two weeks at the urgent request of a parliamentary group”, and the SDP may request five emergency debates for each legislative session, for having more than a fifth of the number of deputies.
The Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic also state that in urgent debates “The Government must be represented in debates by one of its members”, but does not oblige that this member be the one requested by the parties. .
The request for an urgent debate, submitted by the PSD, comes after the Liberal Initiative announced this morning that it would submit a vote of no confidence to the government “as soon as possible.”
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. .
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
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