Upon leaving the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was questioned about the Health Activities Inspection General (IGAS) report, which suggested that a man’s death in November 2024 during the INEM strike could have been prevented with timely intervention.
When asked about the severity of the report and who should take responsibility, the head of state replied: “I don’t know. I was between Luanda and Maputo, and then in Maputo when I heard about this report. I need to see exactly what the content is, if there is any additional report, what exists from the perspective of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. I won’t comment.”
Subsequently, the President was asked about news from Correio da Manhã regarding Prime Minister Luís Montenegro refusing to provide evidence of work done by Spinumviva—a family business later transferred to his children—as requested by the Transparency Entity, and appealing this request to the Constitutional Court.
“I also cannot comment, I saw the headline quickly in today’s press, but I do not know exactly what the content is, what type of procedure, what is involved, and therefore, I will not comment,” replied Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
“It is very difficult to formulate judgments, even political ones, let alone legal ones, without knowing the facts,” he considered.
Regarding the IGAS report, the head of state mentioned he is unaware of the document and also hasn’t heard statements from the Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, adding: “And I haven’t legally analyzed the issue. It’s difficult for me to discuss what is called a causal link, meaning whether there is a connection between one thing and another, proven with legal or criminal consequences. We shall see.”
The President refrained from commenting on the situation of the Health Minister: “Since I do not comment on the report, which I do not know, and do not comment on the case under consideration, I cannot form any judgment on behavior in the past, present, and future.”
