The political crisis is open. The most serious of the seven years of António Costa’s reign. By not accepting the resignation of Joao Galamba, who referred to the noise of “noise that covers the facts, the truth”, the Prime Minister raised a new level of confrontation with the President of the Republic, which the head of the Minister of Infrastructure had been demanding for several days.
After an hour and a half meeting in Belém, Costa walked up to the stairs of São Bento to suggest somewhat cautiously that his minister was still in government.
“It was easier for me to accept my resignation, but I prefer to remain with my conscience,” the prime minister said at the beginning of his speech, adding: “This is my and only my decision.”
Costa emphasized that “the exercise of power requires a willingness to retire” and added, “I admit that many people do not understand my decision, but I hope the future will prove me right.”
The head of government also stated that neither he nor any minister gave any instructions to the security services (SB), and that this body “did not act outside the law.” When asked about his relationship with Marcelo and the possible dissolution of Parliament, Costa said: “I am not speculating. Stability is a big boon. The Government will be here to take the decisions of the President of the Republic.”
Marcelo waited for Costa to finish and then released a statement: “The Minister of Infrastructure resigned (…) in good conscience, despite the situation, which he considered deplorable. The President of the Republic, who cannot justify a member of the Government without the proposal of the Prime Minister, does not agree with the position of the latter with regard to the political interpretation of the facts and the resulting perception on the part of the Portuguese regarding the prestige of the institutions that govern.”
Former secretary of state says use of Airbus funds was transparent
Former Secretary of the Treasury Isabel Castelo Branco, who was part of the government of Pedro Passos Coelho, said Tuesday in Parliament that the operation to raise Airbus funds for TAP’s capitalization was “transparent”.
The former official, who was heard before the Economic Commission on Tuesday in the case of Atlantic Gateway’s purchase of 61% of TAP in a 2015 privatization that included a €226.75 million capitalization of the company, expressed regret that these were questions associated with the funds and financial transactions of this kind, as if they were a “strange, covert operation.”
The company, owned by David Nieleman and Humberto Pedrosa, will receive the funds directly from Airbus and they will be delivered in exchange for a “lease” deal for 53 aircraft from a European manufacturer, which will see the airline pay its own capitalization.
“Unwanted”, but not “forbidden” meeting
The Transparency Commission considers it “politically undesirable” for Carlos Pereira (PS) to attend a meeting with the former TAP CEO, but rejects the possibility of barring MPs from attending meetings they deem useful for their mandate. The SDP and Chega asked this committee to comment on the meeting.
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OPEN PGR SURVEY IN SIS
The Attorney General’s Office (PGR), led by Lucilia Gago, should initiate an investigation into the role of the SIS – Information and Security Service in the seizure of the computer of the former Assistant Minister of Infrastructure. . This will be decided by the Directorate-General for Investigation and the Execution of Punishments.
BRILLIANT UNDER CHARGING
PSD, Chega, IL and BE accuse PS Parliamentary Leader Brilhante Diaz of suspecting deputies of leaking information from classified documents.
SIRP EXPLANATIONS FOR SIS
The Supervisory Board of the Information System of the Portuguese Republic (SIRP) clarified that, on its own initiative, it requested information about the intervention of the SIS in the restoration of a computer assigned to a former government deputy with classified information. SIRP also says its activities are “classified by law”.
