“Ai, Luís Montenegro and his often convoluted stories. It’s extraordinary, because I recently heard Montenegro’s reaction to this tale. He reacted with calm, astonishment, and outrage. The story isn’t consistent for even three words in a row,” Rui Tavares criticized.
The Livre spokesperson spoke on the sidelines of a campaign event for Sunday’s municipal elections in Oeiras, accompanied by BE’s national coordinator, Mariana Mortágua. He was commenting on a report that prosecutors responsible for a preventive investigation into Spinumviva believe a criminal inquiry should be opened against the prime minister, a decision that rests with the Attorney General.
On Tuesday in Albufeira, the prime minister expressed being “astonished and outraged” by the news about the Spinumviva case, describing it as “shameful” while awaiting the “analysis and judgment of the Public Prosecution Service.”
“He’s calm, he’s outraged, he’s astonished because Luís Montenegro doesn’t stick to one straightforward story. He keeps changing it, as obviously something isn’t quite right,” said Rui Tavares.
The head of Livre further argued that the prime minister and PSD leader “does not have a relationship with truth, he has a case with truth, and it’s not very serious.”
“It’s regrettable, but this is what we have to deal with and we are here to help dismantle it,” he stated.
When asked if the prime minister could remain in office should a criminal inquiry be initiated, Tavares said he would comment if that scenario occurs but emphasized that “this story never was well explained.”
“Luís Montenegro managed some political blackmail, making voters judges in the last election. Each has their role; voters decide certain things, judges decide others, and I hope everyone respects the investigations and the justice process regarding this case,” he added.
The Attorney General’s Office clarified today that the preventive investigation concerning the company Spinumviva is ongoing, with the Public Prosecution Service still awaiting documentation, hence the inquiry continues.
“Thus, at this moment, there is no formed conviction to close the preventive investigation, nor has anything been proposed to the Attorney General about this matter,” states a release from the Attorney General’s office.
At the end of September, the Attorney General stated that the Public Prosecution requested more documentation from the prime minister to conclude the preventive investigation into the business dealings of his family company Spinumviva, which led to the resignation of his first executive in March last year.
