Medina says now is not the time to draw more conclusions about TAP’s financial manager

On Tuesday, the finance minister felt it was not the time to draw further conclusions when asked if he retained confidence in TAP financial administrator Gonzalo Pires, assuming the parliamentary committee would get the job done.

Fernando Medina responded to Chega MP Rui Afonso during parliamentary hearings at the Commission on Budget and Finance (COF) as part of a statement submitted by the party.

“Now is not the time for the government to draw any additional conclusions to those it already made before the start of the commission of inquiry,” he said when asked if he retains confidence in Gonzal Pires.

The minister justified that the understanding of the executive branch “is respect for the commission of inquiry”, believing that it “does its job.”

“Now the commission of inquiry has begun its work, it will hold a very wide range of hearings. It can listen to conflicting terms, call people again to provide clarifications at its discretion,” he said.

TAP’s financial administrator has ruled out knowing about the agreement to leave former administrator Alexandra Reis from the airline.

“I didn’t make the decision and didn’t help make it,” he told a parliamentary commission investigating the activities of the TAP.

At a hearing before TAP’s Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI), Gonzalo Pires explained that he was aware of Alexandra Reis’ departure from the company, but only “unofficially” from a message from TAP executive president Christine Urmier. Widener, in a Whatsapp message a few days before the official confirmation.

However, according to TVI/CNN, the financial administrator’s version contrasts with Christine Urmier-Widener’s version, according to which Goncalo Pires was informed from the very beginning of the process of leaving Alexandra Reis.

Also on Tuesday, the prime minister considered it important to wait for the end of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the activities of the TAP in order to remove any political consequences, and stressed that each sovereign body has its own time.