“I will remain silent on all issues”: Lacerda Sales will not respond to deputies

remember, that Lacerda Sales was named as a defendant by prosecutors in early June after conducting searches as part of the investigation into the twins.

Antonio Lacerda Sales began by placing a preliminary note before his initial statement as part of his rationale for adjourning the hearing:

“On May 31, I received a summons to testify at the parliamentary investigative commission. On June 3, it was announced that my petition had been accepted. On June 4, I was named as an accused,” he said.

“This previous note is an expression of the fact that the thesis, which I asked for a delay after becoming an accused, is falling apart. I asked for a delay before I was made an accused,” he added.

Initial statement by Antonio Lacerda Sales

In his opening remarks, the former Secretary of State for Health said he chose to become a doctor almost 40 years ago to save lives. “I have dedicated my entire life to serving others,” he said.

“I accepted the challenges of politics. And it was with these values ​​that I acted as Minister of Health,” he assured.

Lacerda Sales said this was a case of a degenerative disease that is almost always diagnosed in childhood, and added that the IGAS report was “based on simple evidence and speculation.” “I can’t help but express my surprise. The preparation of the IGAS report is more like an attempt to respond to media pressure,” he said.

“Clinical guidelines were followed. No one was ahead of anyone. There was no queue. I cannot be a scapegoat,” he said.

Finally, Lacerda Sales stated that he continues to cooperate in uncovering the truth that interests everyone. However, the former Secretary of State for Health cited judicial secrecy and the status of the accused and guaranteed he would remain “silent on all matters” of MPs.

MPs say CPI must continue

Deputies discussed the refusal of Lacerda Sales in a parliamentary committee. He also guaranteed that he would maintain the right to remain silent, even if it was a closed commission.

The parliamentary committee continued to insist on interrogating Lacerda Sales. Andre Ventura, He’s arrivingis the first deputy and asked if it was true that he met with Nuno Rebelo de Souza (son of Marcelo Rebelo de Souza).

“These are facts that are relevant to my actions, and I will not react to them. These are public facts that I repeat and to which you already had access,” he said.

Lacerda Sales was irritated by Andre Ventura’s insistence on the twins’ case and asked him to look him in the eye, saying his office “never received an email or official document.”

The former Secretary of State for Health also said that he never spoke to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa or Marta Temido about the twins’ case.

Antonio Rodriguez, Deputy PSDAntonio Lacerda Sales asked how many children were treated with Zolgensma during his mandate, but he replied that he did not have such data.

Antonio Rodriguez also questioned whether this resource would impact the hospital’s budget. “The final results obtained by each hospital are the responsibility of the hospitals themselves,” Lacerda Sales said.

João Paulo Correia, Deputy PSassured that there are deputies who were not able to familiarize themselves with the documentation due to the very short time between the provision of documents and the commission of inquiry.

Joana Cordeiro, Deputy Illinois, and Lacerda Sales discussed the case of the twins in a lively discussion, with the former Secretary of State enraptured. “If I didn’t remember, it was because I didn’t have documentation to prove what happened 4 years ago,” he said.

“Look again in my eyes and the Portuguese in the eyes,” he repeated again. Lacerda Sales also invoked the right to remain silent several times in a series of questions from the deputy.

Joana Cordeiro asked Lacerda Sales whether Nuno Rebelo de Sousa had offered any benefits to the former health minister, a question Lacerda Sales found offensive. “This question is offensive to me,” he assured.

Joana Mortagua, from BEquestioned Lacerda Sales about statements he made at the beginning of the meeting when he said he could not be a “scapegoat.”

“You just need to look at the chronology of the process to see that it did not start on October 26, 2019. This process has many antecedents,” responded the former Secretary of State for Health.

Alfredo Maya, Deputy PCPasked Lacerda Sales if he thought there should be transparency in industry pricing and in the funding of innovative medicines in the NHS.

“I am not the one who sets the cost of drugs or pays for them,” Lacerda Sales responded.

Paulo Muacho, Deputy For freeraised questions about how appointment requests to access treatment work in such cases.

Lacerda Sales explained that requests came through documents, letters, emails, hearings and other means, but he did not remember the requests coming from the President of the Republic.

Joao Almeida, from CDS, said Lacerda sales chose a selective response. “I came to tell the truth and I say it again, face to face, the Portuguese know that I am telling the truth,” assured the former Secretary of State.

The CDS MP questioned how formally and informally this issue reaches the office of former Health Minister Lacerda Sales, citing his right to remain silent, but assured that “everyone knows what formality, documentation, etc., etc. are. ” which is something informal.”

Ines Souza Real, from POTasked Lacerda Sales about the requests for help he received in his office and the meetings that took place there.

“I accepted everyone. Many times I didn’t even know the purpose of the meetings, given the number of them. I didn’t even worry about conflicts of interest or lobbying issues because I actually accepted everyone,” he said.

IN second round From António Lacerda’s questions, Sales, answering all of them, said that in his opinion there were many loose ends in this matter and that he had not received a single letter “from the Prime Minister”, which also ensured that he had a clear conscience .

Lacerda Sales also criticized Joana Cordeiro, who said that time was “wasted” in compiling this consumer price index. “We are not wasting time, I am here to tell the truth and what I know. I must apologize to the Portuguese and these MPs,” he fumed.

Finally, the former Secretary of State for Health also stated that he had already accepted political rather than technical responsibility.

The parliamentary committee also began third round in which Lacerda Sales continued to mention that he had already assumed “political responsibility”, like that of the Secretary of State, he stated. However, he reiterated that he leaves “technical and factual” responsibility to the criminal process.

Closing speech by Antonio Lacerda Sales

The former Secretary of State for Health said in his closing speech that political control is important, protecting public accountability and taking responsibility. However, he also said he understands that this review must be carried out responsibly, “free from partisan political instrumentalization.”

Lacerda Sales also noted the importance of social communications. “It is important that they act responsibly, with respect for dignity and privacy,” he said.

He also left it to citizens to “convey a message of trust and optimism from the NHS, which has been a pillar of the community.” As a citizen, he says it is important to continue to believe in and believe in justice.