The regional Finance Secretary has already stated that the current situation is unsustainable and expenses are out of control, said Francisco César. “When we look at the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), we see what could have been an opportunity to restructure, grow, and upgrade our Region, might turn into a ticking time bomb for our public finances.”
The regional Socialist leader spoke in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, after meeting with the Economic and Social Council of the Azores (CESA).
“Out of the more than 260 million euros executed so far, around 150 million were advances. This means if the projects are not completed, not only will the Region have to use budget funds to pay what remains, but it will also have to return the advances to the European Union. So, it’s a double burden,” highlighted the Azorean PS leader.
Francisco César also noted that there are no studies on the PRR’s impacts or its execution, mentioning that CESA, the body legally bound to monitor the PRR, “has outdated information,” while “the Republic’s Government already has it.”
“This cannot happen. Not only are they not doing it properly, they’re hiding what’s being done,” he claimed.
The regional PS leader assured that the party would “demand accountability” and “monitor,” alleging that “recent news that has come to light” raises significant concerns, referring to the situation of the airline SATA, whose restructuring goals have “failed” over the “past five years,” and the PRR, which “risks not being executed.”
“We will act as the opposition. We might collaborate, but what starts badly, seldom rights itself. And that’s what it seems like,” affirmed Francisco César, stating that the party will question the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) and “present initiatives to try to help in this situation.”
