During the ceremony for the swearing-in and reappointment of dozens of deputy attorneys general, held today at the Prosecutor General’s Office in Lisbon, the status of the preventive inquiry, which the prosecutor general wished to have concluded before the judicial holidays, remained in question. Amadeu Guerra stated that a decision is still pending.
“The decision has not been released yet, has it? We are working with the director of the DCIAP [Central Department of Criminal Investigation and Prosecution, overseeing the preventive inquiry] to determine the necessary resources to conclude it,” said the prosecutor general of the Republic.
When asked about a possible conclusion date, he withheld from making any commitments, stating, “I don’t have feedback, but I hope to have it soon.”
The controversy surrounding the company Spinumviva emerged following reports in Correio da Manhã, indicating its involvement in real estate transactions, alongside other news about companies and properties owned by government members in the real estate sector. This surfaced as the government is reviewing the land law, potentially impacting the valuation of land and houses.
These revelations sparked debate about the potential professional activities of the prime minister parallel to his governmental functions, the company’s client identities, and possible conflicts of interest.
Luís Montenegro, amidst the controversy, refused to identify the company’s clients, denying any influence over his activities and maintaining that he resigned from his partnership position in June 2022, transferring his shares to his wife. This raised questions about the act’s validity, as the marital property regime may, according to experts, render the act void.
Information from the Expresso newspaper disclosed that the company had a monthly retainer of 4,500 euros with the Solverde group, owners of hotels and casinos. Subsequently, Solverde announced the termination of the contract with Spinumviva.
Following three complaints received by the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Public Ministry initiated a preventive inquiry into the prime minister’s family company to ascertain whether there are indications justifying a criminal investigation.
The preventive inquiry was confirmed by the prosecutor general on March 12, a day after the fall of Luís Montenegro’s government, which did not survive the rejection of the confidence motion in parliament.
