Former Finance Minister Miguel Cruz says he learned about the TAP compensation Alexandra Reis from the news.

Former Finance Minister Miguel Cruz is being heard on Tuesday in a commission of inquiry by TAP, set up following a disputed compensation to Alexandra Reis over political tutelage of the airline’s management.

Miguel Cruz exercised financial oversight of TAP as Secretary of State for the Treasury between 2020 and 2022, a position he assumed after stepping down as president of Parpública, a company that manages the state’s stakes in, for example, an airline. .

The ex-governor was short-lived when, together with then finance ministers Joao Leão and infrastructure and housing ministers Pedro Nuno Santos, the return of the airline to state control was announced after difficulties caused by the covid-19 pandemic and after five years of private management.

Former Treasury Secretary of State learned about compensation for Alexandra Reis from the news

Miguel Cruz is being asked about when he found out about Alexandra Reis’s compensation, and he reveals that he learned about it from the news in December 2022. “I can’t say that I was close to the engineer Alexandra Reis, although I have great respect for the work done,” he replies about the connection with the former TAP administrator.

“We weren’t interested in replacing Alexandra Reis”

The former finance minister sent an email on December 29 declaring her intention to resign if she wants to, according to Miguel Cruz. The former secretary of state understands that he “was not interested in replacing engineer Alexandra Reis.” The same opinion is shared by the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Miguel Cruz explains the reasons behind the resignation of former TAP CFO Joao Weber Gameiro

The former finance minister is being approached about the resignation of former TAP CFO Joao Weber Gameiro, which has already been heard at CPI. The former finance minister reports that Joao Weber assessed the level of risk and felt he could not continue. PSD MP Paulo Moniz presents him with a different version in question.

“The commitment to sell TAP was not part of the restructuring plan”

MP Paulo Moniz continues to question Miguel Cruz, and this time TAP’s restructuring plan is in the spotlight. “The commitment to sell TAP was not part of the restructuring plan,” says the finance minister. It is also doubtful whether there were layoffs at the airline at the initiative of Brussels. Miguel Cruz denies this, and also says that “Brussels never puts forward demands for layoffs or other issues.”

“[Alexandra Reis] resigned to take on new professional challenges”

The topic of Alexandra Reis leaving TAP is again the focus of the investigation. PSD MP Paulo Moniz asks if Miguel Cruz has commented on the departure of Alexandra Reis to anyone. The former secretary of state admits that he spoke with finance minister Joao Leao that the ex-administrator’s departure was not timely. The PSD MP confronts Miguel Cruz and asks if anyone would like to know the reason for leaving. The former finance minister reports that Alexandra Reis has “retired to take on new professional challenges.” Paulo Moniz is not satisfied with the answer and insists on asking a question. Miguel Cruz once again justifies the departure of Alexandra Reis with “new professional challenges”.

“If there is no refusal, there is no right to compensation,” explains Miguel Cruz.

Chega MP Filipe Melo takes the floor and asks the former secretary of state whether the financial guardian should know about the departure of the administrator with compensation. “If there is no refusal, there is no right to compensation,” explains Miguel Cruz.

Miguel Cruz is asked how he learned about Alexandra Reis leaving TAP, and he says he learned about it from the CMVM statement. “The Treasury Department was not informed of the reasons for Alexandra Reis’ departure,” he adds.