President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António Costa have already accepted the resignation of Secretary of State Miguel Alves this Thursday after the Ministry of Public Opinion (MP) accused him of evasiveness.
A statement released by the Secretary of State said the resignation came after the MP became aware of the allegations. as part of a certificate obtained as a result of Operation Teija regarding suspicions that the company of Manuela Couto, the wife of the former socialist mayor of Santo Tirso, was given the advantage of several contracts. So Miguel Alves states that the situation does not allow him to remain in public service.
“In the light of the accusation made by the Public Prosecutor, and although I am not aware of the six conditions and assumptions, I believe that the conditions that allow me to remain in the Portuguese government are not met. Statement and adds: “I have a clear conscience, I am absolutely convinced of the legality of all the decisions that I have taken in the service of the people of Caminha, and I am very committed to defending my honor in the right place and at the right time in justice.”
About the prosecution of the State Ministry, Miguel Alves says that “this refers to the facts that occurred in 2015 and 2016 in the execution of the mandate of the mayor of Caminha” and were “confirmed by the Attorney General of the Republic”, Lusilia. Gago, “after contact with legal entities of the Minister of Justice”, Catarina Sarmento and Castro.
Under these circumstances, Miguel Alves resigned from the post of Assistant Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, which he had held since 16 September.
The former mayor took office on 16 September as Deputy Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, a position that António Costa initially chose not to have as part of this third executive, formed on 30 March.
Miguel Alves has been at the center of controversy over the actions he took as Mayor of the Caminha City Council, as well as the indictment in two court cases.
The controversy began when Público reported on October 26 that Miguel Alves had negotiated and signed a contract in which the municipality of Caminha gave an advance of 300,000 euros as rent to a businessman to build a cross-border exhibition center in Caminha. work that has not yet begun, despite the fact that the promised contract between the promoter and the municipality was signed in 2020.
Author: morning Post as well as Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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