At a press conference at the party headquarters, Ventura responded to the searches conducted today at TAP concerning the “granting of compensation upon the resignation of a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee” of the airline.
“It is absolutely clear that the Socialist Party and its absolute majority unavoidably influenced the conclusions of that inquiry committee,” particularly regarding alleged “political interference,” he stated, accusing the rapporteur, Ana Paula Bernardo (PS), of performing “a real favor to the previous government, attempting to hide, conceal, and downplay” an “abusive and outrageous management of the values involved at TAP.”
The Chega leader expressed that the parliament allowed itself to be influenced by the political majority of the time “to protect its governors, to protect [the then Prime Minister] António Costa, and to protect those who were in charge of TAP.”
Ventura accused the former Prime Minister and ex-general secretary of the PS, now President of the European Council, of having given “instructions to his parliamentary group to obstruct, to complicate, to cover up, and ultimately to condition the conclusions of this inquiry committee.”
The Chega leader warned that he “will not hesitate to again demand political accountability” from former Prime Minister António Costa, former ministers, and those who “worked directly with them.”
“The current PS leadership was in government precisely during these events, and therefore, we should be able to demand accountability from the current PS leadership members as well,” he added.
André Ventura praised the justice system for the investigation and expressed hope for “quick conclusions so that parliament can demand political accountability.” He urged the Government to provide “the most detailed collaboration possible.”
In July 2023, the final report of the parliamentary inquiry committee into TAP’s political management was approved in committee only by the PS, with all other parties voting against it.
The searches at TAP, announced by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, also cover a law office in Lisbon and “searches of computer equipment at the Government’s General Secretariat.”
The investigation concerns the suspicion of crimes of damaging administration, receiving or offering undue advantage, economic participation in business, and abuse of power.
In 2022, TAP was involved in controversy due to the payment of a 500-thousand-euro compensation to then-administrator Alexandra Reis for her departure from the company, by mutual agreement between the parties.
FM (MPE/IB) // SF
Lusa/End
