This Thursday, the SDP president accused the government of “failing to tell the truth” about the legal opinion that justified the firings of TAP officials and urged the prime minister to speak to the country.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a visit to the future university residence in Lisbon, Luis Montenegro was asked about the SIC report, which, citing a source in the Ministry of Finance, said that the legal grounds for the decision to dismiss the chairman and chief executive officer of TAP for a fair reason “are and have always been” according to the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF).
“Unfortunately, we have a government, a prime minister and four ministers who are playing with the Portuguese (…) Yesterday, the government, through more than one minister, said that it was not possible to provide information because it contains elements necessary to protect the state in possible disputes . After all, this is the opinion of the IGF, which has been public for more than a month and a half?” the social democrat asked.
Montenegro accused the government of acting in this matter “frivolously, thoughtlessly and untrue” and wondered “who in Portugal is not ready to govern”.
“I think the prime minister will have to talk to the country. The prime minister has gone missing to see if he can navigate by sending his deputies ahead to take over the media space,” he criticized, urging António Costa to clarify “that he based his government on layoffs,” which he says , were made for a good reason.
Montenegro specifically pointed out to the ministers of finance, infrastructure, parliamentary affairs and the chairman of the Council of Ministers: “Why don’t they say anything the first time, why do we always have to walk here with a corkscrew and then find that there is always skill in the noise?” he asked , stating that the government is increasingly lacking “political authority”.
When asked if the SDP would present a vote of no confidence in the government, Montenegro replied that the Social Democrats would “for the moment” focus on “denouncing the state of degradation” of the executive branch.
“This government can only terminate its functions by resigning or dismissal, and this is not within the scope of the SDP,” he added.