“The prime minister cannot think he is above others in scrutiny. Unless there is some personal confidentiality reason in certain matters, I don’t see what reason could support this,” stated André Ventura.
Speaking to journalists in Cacém, within Sintra municipality and Lisbon district, where he joined the party’s candidate for the Sintra Municipal Council in a walkabout, Ventura commented on the situation.
“I don’t know what decision the Constitutional Court will make, but it is also important to understand that this is a decision that will likely set a precedent and impact the future,” he argued.
Ventura criticized the prime minister for blocking access to his own declaration of assets and income after promising to be the most transparent leader in the country’s history, labeling it as a bad principle and a poor example.
“Politicians don’t need to fully expose their intimate, private, and personal life, but that’s not what’s required by the Transparency Entity or the Constitutional Court. These are issues where assets or conflicts of interest may clash with the exercise of duties,” he indicated.
Ventura expressed hope that the PSD and the prime minister understand that such actions disservice democracy. “Transparency must be for everyone, not just a select few. The head of government cannot demand transparency from other deputies and parties but not apply it to himself,” he contended.
The Chega leader called for Luís Montenegro to clarify which issues are confidential in his declaration and to explain the reason for the confidentiality.
“The prime minister indeed opposed this and cannot claim otherwise,” said Ventura, adding that the prime minister’s lack of transparency either reflects poorly on his political character or suggests he has something to hide.
Regarding local elections, Ventura set a goal for Chega to win in Sintra and acknowledged the potential loss of Rita Matias in parliament, but considered it “for a greater good.”
“Rita is one of the most important members in our parliamentary work. She has been with me from the beginning and has been a significant voice on various issues, not only in cultural battles but as the face of our youth,” Ventura emphasized.
Sintra’s mayoral candidate highlighted that her platform would focus on reducing bureaucracy, security, mobility, and health.
Rita Matias, vice-president of the Chega parliamentary group and leader of the party’s youth wing, admitted that managing the country’s second-largest municipality is “very ambitious” but claimed it “isn’t difficult to do better” than the current mayor, Basílio Horta.
On Tuesday, the Transparency Entity confirmed to Lusa that the prime minister submitted requests opposing public consultation of his income declarations, with the process suspended until a final decision by the Constitutional Court.
Later, Luís Montenegro’s office clarified that his opposition request regarding public consultation of his income declaration pertains only to “some elements” included in an appeal to the Constitutional Court.
By the end of the day, the Transparency Entity confirmed that one of the prime minister’s opposition requests relates to a list of clients and services provided by Spinumviva.
