The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, submitted a new declaration of interests to the Transparency Entity this afternoon, revealing seven new clients of Spinumviva shortly before his televised debate against the PS Secretary-General.
Speaking to the press following a meeting with the National Police Union (SINAPOL) in Lisbon, Rui Rocha criticized Luís Montenegro’s handling of the situation as “an affront to the Portuguese people.”
“If the data exists, why are we holding elections? Why plunge the country into a political crisis by withholding this information and then releasing it 15 days before elections, data that Luís Montenegro likely already knew, and delaying its disclosure for weeks or months?” he questioned.
Rui Rocha queried why Luís Montenegro did not immediately disclose the information “as soon as the issue arose.”
“Why did he wait so long? Is this a tactical maneuver aligned with the timing of debates? I find this absolutely unacceptable and indicative of a failure to meet responsibilities,” he alleged.
In addition to Luís Montenegro, Rui Rocha criticized Pedro Nuno Santos, the PS Secretary-General, for what he described as “wavering on the necessity of a parliamentary inquiry” into Spinumviva.
“I ask, are Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos playing games with the country? Playing games with the Portuguese people?” he questioned, suggesting that the leaders should consider the numerous challenges facing Portugal, from healthcare to housing, security, and economic growth, and conduct themselves with maturity regarding these issues.
“I believe they have not done so, and they deserve full political condemnation for this lack of statecraft and respect for the Portuguese people,” he stated, questioning “what these leaders are doing to the country.”
