“They do not belong to the object of analysis”: Speaker explains the omission of the “Controversy in the Ministry of Infrastructure”

The rapporteur for the TAP investigation panel clarified on Wednesday that the document does not address the events at the Ministry of Infrastructure that Federico Pinheiro is involved in, as she believes that “these are events that do not concern the TAP facility.”

In addition, the intervention of the SIS and the meeting of the former TAP CEO with the deputies of the PS are not “part of the object of analysis” of the report.

The preliminary report of the TAP parliamentary commission of inquiry concludes that there is no evidence of political interference in the management of the company and highlights the negative impact of the restructuring plan on workers.

These are the two central lines of the proposed report presented at the press conference, which sought to convey the idea of ​​being open about changes from the original version of the document of which he is the author.

According to the Deputy Rapporteur, there were no “significant situations indicating the practice of interference in the operational management of the company by the supervisory authority,” that is, the ministries of finance and infrastructure.

However, in the opinion, he also recommended to the various ministries of the executive branch that they “better articulate” for the future in cases where public sector companies are jointly responsible.

Another conclusion, which was considered controversial by the speaker, is related to the lack of “evidence of any connection” between the departure of Alexandra Reis from the administration of the TAR with compensation of half a million euros and her transfer in the near future. subsequently to the management of NAV.

On a political level, Anu Paulo Bernardo was asked at a press conference if the inclusion of references in the report on “negative effects on TAP workers” throughout the company’s restructuring process was intended to lock in PCP’s abstention.

For now, the socialist MP has not responded to the PS’s possible political goals in terms of a final vote on the report, but has highlighted her experience as a UGT trade union activist.

In front of reporters, Ana Paula Bernardo mentioned the results of the hearings held with the trade unions during the parliamentary commission of inquiry, during which the following conclusion was made: “The restructuring plan had a negative impact on the workers.”

“After the suspension of collective agreements, temporary emergency agreements were signed between the TAP and all trade unions” with the adoption of “wage cuts from 20 to 50%”, which did not prevent “a strong reduction in the number of cross-cutting mechanisms, such as non-renewal of fixed-term contracts, termination by agreement and collective layoffs.

The Deputy Rapporteur of the TAP Commission of Inquiry allowed for the possibility of sending information to the prosecutor’s office if substantiating data appeared before the final report, indicating that the preliminary version had no instructions in this regard.

“Perhaps there is no note in the report at this point in time. Until the end, let’s see if there is actually any information justifying [o envio ao Ministério Público]”, Socialist MP Ana Paula Bernardo replied at a press conference in the Assembly of the Republic to present to TAP the preliminary report of the commission of inquiry, presented in the last minutes of Tuesday.

The deputy speaker recalled that there are elements that are already being assessed by the government ministry, such as the Airbus aircraft business, following an audit requested by TAP, which concluded that there could be indications that the company had suffered damage.

Until July 10, the parties may submit proposals for changing this preliminary version. Discussion and voting on the report in the parliamentary commission of inquiry is scheduled for July 13, and its consideration at the plenary session – for July 19.