During the biweekly debate with the Prime Minister in the Assembly of the Republic, Mariana Leitão stated that the PSD/CDS-PP Government, with its creation of 89 working groups, exceeded the previous administration led by António Costa, and turned this practice into a “permanent mode of operation”.

The deputy and president of the IL cited examples of working groups on health, youth, cultural heritage, science, and education, arguing that “the problem is not just the number, it is the nature of these groups,” considering that many of them “are duplicating functions already performed by specialized public bodies”.

In response, the Prime Minister argued that “these working groups are instrumental in the process of transforming the Administration” and linked them to the “transition of the dominant force in governance,” which necessitates “making changes”.

“In all those you mentioned, I could see this very idea: the idea of accelerating, the idea of articulating, the idea of streamlining, and it corresponds to a directive I personally gave,” added Luís Montenegro.

According to the head of Government, “these working groups, or a large part of them, were created so that these responses can be coordinated, shaped, and quicker,” through the articulation between state departments, and not “to postpone decisions”.

“Therefore, Madam Deputy, it might indeed have been a good decision. I will even say: it was certainly a good decision,” he argued.