Former MEP and presidential candidate Ana Gómez defended on Thursday that Pedro Nuno Santos is leaving the government “in earnest, with conviction and with dignity” and “in time to revive the PS”.
“Pedro Nuno Santos is leaving as he always was in government: seriously, with conviction and with dignity. And with ambitions for the country. I hope that it will revive the Socialist Party in time,” socialist Ana Gomes wrote on the social network Twitter.
During the January 2021 presidential election campaign, Ana Gómez promised to encourage Pedro Nuno Santos to run for Socialist leader when António Costa’s succession emerges.
Considering that the now former minister’s support for his presidential candidacy was “very important”, Ana Gómez added at the time: “Of course I will be one of those who will support Pedro Nuno Santos when one day the leadership of PS opens up. , to move forward, I think we need young, courageous people with vision, knowledge of the economic and social fabric of the country and with dynamism.”
The resignation of Pedro Nuno Santos came to light on Wednesday evening following a half-million-euro compensation case received by Secretary of State Alexandra Reis when she left TAP.
The departure of the infrastructure minister from the government came 24 hours after finance minister Fernando Medina fired the finance minister, less than a month after Alexandra Reis took office and after four days of wrangling over compensation. of the 500 thousand euros paid to TAP under the leadership of Pedro Nuno Santos.
“Given public opinion and collective feelings around” the TAP case, Pedro Nuno Santos decided to “take political responsibility and submit his resignation” already accepted by Prime Minister António Costa, according to a statement released on Wednesday. at night by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing.
The statement also adds that “following explanations given by TAP that prompted the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing and the Minister of Finance to submit the process to CMVM [Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários] and IGF [Inspeção-Geral de Finanças]Secretary of State for Infrastructure [Hugo Santos Mendes] understood, given the circumstances, to resign.”
Alexandra Reis was compensated in the amount of half a million euros for her early retirement in February from the position of executive administrator of the air carrier, when she still had to serve for two years, and in June she was appointed by the Government to the presidency of Navegasao Aerea in Portugal (NAV). This month, she was elected finance minister.
The decision to compensate Alexandre Reis was criticized by all the opposition and even questioned the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, when he said that “there are those who think” that it would be “beautiful” to do without the sum. .
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.